Chronology Birthday Card

I hope you have all had a good Christmas. We had a fantastic few days from church on Christmas Eve through the excitment of Father Christmas filling the stockings at home and finishing with Boxing Day at my parents. I think it's safe to say my sons have had their best Christmas yet.

As the New Year approaches, I thought I'd share some cards I haven't had a chance to share before.

This card was made for a friend to give to a male friend she had recently made contact with after several years. She asked for a time theme and the colour purple, so I turned to the Docrafts Chronology CD and used these fabulous papers.

I simply backed the papers onto kraft and black card. The sentiment is printed from the CD and I finished with buttons and black pearls from Scrapberry's.

Thank you for visiting today and for all your lovely comments. Cathy x

2 Crafty Girls Winter Blues Challenge

Hello, today sees the start of another challenge over at the 2 Crafty Girls Challenge Blog. This fortnight our theme is Winter Blues and the sponsor is the fabulous PPinkydolls.

The image I chose is the beautiful Waitting for Him, available to purchase here. I fell in love with this digi straight away and it was an absolute joy to colour.

I came up with the idea of a Missing You at Christmas card as the girl looks so wistful. Christmas can be difficult for many people who can't be with loved ones. We have suffered the loss of a dear friend this year so this is also because we are thinking of him.

I have kept the card simple as I love the image so much. The image has been coloured using Spectrum Noir Markers and inked round using Faded Jeans distress ink. The papers are from the Crafter's Companion Beatrix Potter A Winter's Tale CD and the hearts have been cut using Trimcraft Santoro Willow Dies.

Of course it won't have escaped your notice that today is Christmas Eve so I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and to thank you all for your support this year.

Lots of love

Cathy x

Bestie Snow Day Ever

Good morning. Christmas is so close now- I have two very excited boys at home and we have lots planned for the week. We're off to see Star Wars later- I promise I won't share any spoilers.

Today sees our last Same but Different of the year over at the My Besties UK Challenge blog. Today we are using this fabulous Sherri Ann Baldy image called My Bestie Snow Day Ever, available to buy here. Don't forget to go to the blog to see all the fantastic DT cards and comment on the post to have a chance of wining this digi.

I have used Spectrum Noir markers to colour the image. Colours used are:
Hat and top: CR9 DR3 DR6
Jeans: TB1 TB3
Bows: LG3 LG5
Boots: EB1 EB2
Hair GB8 GB9

The backing paper and wooden heart are from Trimcraft. I have used Tattered Lace dies to cut snowflakes from Crafter's Companion Desert Storm Card and finished with Trimcraft pearls.

Thanks for visiting today and for your lovely comments.

Nordic Reindeer card

It's been a mad few days for me, so I haven't managed to either make many cards or write my blog. However, I have now finished work for Christmas and I'm looking forward to catching up with my backlog and with reading other people's blogs.

Today's card is a cute nordic card. The stamp is from the Crafter's Companion Nordic Christmas range and has been coloured with Spectrum Noir markers. The sentiment is from the same range.

I have teamed the image with these fabulous Trimcraft First Edition Christmas Wishes papers. I love the vivid colours of the papers and the Christmas jumper pattern of the green paper.

I would like to enter this card for the Spectrum Noir December Challenge Clean and Simple.

Thank you for visiting today and for your lovely comments. Cathy x

2 Crafty Girls Challenge

Last week I told you how happy I was to get a new Design Team post at 2 Crafty Girls Challenge Blog.. Well,  I can now share my first DT card as we have a new challenge starting today. The challenge is Anything Goes and our sponsors are:

Holly Durr Art

Pattie's Creations

You can visit the challenge post here - please do drop by to say hello as the DT have created some fabulous cards and we have some great prizes to win if you join in.

For my card I chose an image from Pattie's Creations called The Night Before Christmas, which is available  to buy here. I love the traditional look of this Christmas Fireplace. I've coloured it using Spectrum Noir and Spectrum Sparkle pens:
Fireplace TN6 TN7 TN8 IG3 IG5 IG7
Fire OR1 OR2
Floor IG1 IG2 IG3
Clock TN7 TN8 EB1 EB2
Candles LY1 LY2 EB1 EB2 Sparkle pens: Red Berry, Holly Leaf
Stockings Sparkle Pens Red Berry, Clear

I've kept with a traditional look with these Docrafts Jolly Santa papers, backed onto Crafter's Companion Desert Storm Neenah card. I've finished off with a Jolly Santa ribbon and bow and some gems.

Thanks for visiting on this exciting day for me and thank you for all your lovely comments.

Little Dimples Christmas Boy

Good morning everyone. What a week I've had. Following on from my son's birthday I've ended up with a nasty cold and a terrible headache I can't shake. Not what I need at this busy time of year! Hope you are all keeping well.

Today sees a new challenge at My Besties UK and this month the option is Christmas (of course we still have the Anything Goes option too). Please do pop over to the blog to see all the fabulous DT cards.

For my card, I chose this gorgeous My Bestie boy, he is Little Dimples Christmas Boy and and the digi can be purchased from the My Besties Shop. I hope you love him as much as I do.

I have coloured the image with Spectrum Noir pens:
Face FS2 FS4 CR2
Hat CR8 DR3 DR6 IG1
Clothes BG1 BG2 CR8 DR3
Slippers EB2 EB3 TN6

I have used Trimcraft products for the rest of the card- North Pole papers have been backed onto Crafter's Companion Desert Storm Neenah card and the ticket to Santa is cut from the papers too. The peg and button are from the same range with the cute wooden trees from the Dovecraft Christmas Basics range and pearls and twine from the Glad Tidings range.

I'd like to enter this card for the following challenges:
Whimsy Stamps Anything Goes- Holidays
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes
My Besties Meet at the Scrappers Corner Anything Goes
Scrapbook Stamp Society Anything Goes Option Christmas
Creative Craft Cottage Anything Goes

Thank you for visiting today and for all your lovely comments. Cathy x

Dragon Boy

Well somehow I blinked and suddenly my baby boy has turned 4. He is very excited about his birthday and we're all looking forward to a tea party later. To be honest, he wasn't really bothered about having a handmade card (he chose himself a Minion card with a badge!) but I wasn't going to let that stop me!

This image is a Sherri Baldy My Bestie called Dragon Boy. He is such a cutie and available to buy in the My Bestie Shop. I've coloured him with Spectrum Noir markers, choosing red as my main colour as it's always been my son's favourite colour. Colours used were:
Face FS2 FS4 CR2
Hair TN1 EB1 EB2
Dragon Wings and Tail CR8 DR1 DR3
Jeans/ Eyes TB1 TB2

I've used papers from Graphic 45- they're from the Mother Goose 12x12 Paper Pad. The stars have been cut with an XCut die and Palm Punch.

In all the excitement of the last few days, I forgot to share some great news last week. The 2 Crafty Girls Challenge Blog is restarting on December 10th and I'm delighted to be a member of the new Design Team. All of the other DT members are amazingly talented so please do take a look at this post to find out more about them.

Thank you for visiting today, I really appreciate all of your comments. Cathy x

With a grateful heart

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the US and, although we don't celebrate it in the UK, it strikes me that at the moment it is important to give thanks for all we have. I am lucky to be healthy, have 2 amazing children, a rewarding job and lots of great friends. So many people in the world live in poverty and in the midst of war that I am so grateful to live in safety and comfort.

This card has been made using Trimcraft First Edition Falling Leaves papers. The leaves have been cut from the papers using X Cut leaf dies and distressed with Walnut Stain distress ink. The sentiment was a free download from Trimcraft (they have a set of toppers and sentiments available here). I have finished off with some Dovecraft Glad Tidings Pearls

Thank you for visiting and commenting today. I hope all of my American visitors have a very Happy Thanksgiving. Cathy x

Vintage Reindeer

Good morning. It seems winter is finally here- I've just come back from the school run and, for the first time this term, we had to wrap up warm. My boys have new Star Wars hats and gloves, so were happy to wear them.

This colder weather makes me feel more Christmassy but also reminds me that I still have lots of cards to make. This little card with its vintage feel is a good template for the quick cards I need to make now- simple yet still stylish.

The papers are Trimcraft First Edition Christmas Wishes- I love this red and brown combination. The reindeer and sentiment stamps are from the Dovecraft Glad Tidings Clear Sentiment stamps pack. I've stamped the deer and sentiment using Vintage Photo distress ink onto Creative Expressions Milk card. I've used the distress ink on the edges of all layers to achieve a vintage look. The twine and pearls are also from the Glad Tidings range.

I would like to enter this card for the Fantasy Stampers Traditional Christmas Challenge.

Thanks for visiting today and for all your lovely comments. Cathy x

My Besties UK Same but Different for November

Hi everyone. Can't believe a week has gone by without blogging- such a busy time of year! Today we have a new Same but Different post over at My Besties UK. This time I got to choose our digi so I chose this gorgeous girl with her sack filled with love. You can buy this digi here in the My Besties store.

Pop over to the My Besties Blog to see all the DT cards, they are really fantastic. If you comment on the post, you will be in with the chance of winning this lovely digi image.

I love blue and silver for Christmas cards so chose that colour scheme for my card. I also wanted to use my new Spectrum Noir Sparkle pens. They are really fantastic, particularly if, like me, you're not a fan of using glitter but love sparkle. I used the Clear Sparkle pen on the hat, cuffs, boots and snowflakes and Solar Red and Emerald Green on the hat decoration. You can really see the effect in this picture:

The rest of the image has been coloured with Spectrum Noir markers:
Skin: FS2 FS4 CR2
Eyes: LG5
Hair: TN1 EB1 EB2
Hat and Dress: TB1 TB3 IG1 IG2
Bow and Boots: DR1 DR2 DR3
Sack EB1 EB2 TN1

To make the card I have used Crafter's Companion BeBunni Christmas papers and silver card from the Create and Craft Member's Gift. The snowflakes were cut using Spellbinders Dies (2012 set I think). The ribbon is from Next and I've finished off with some Papermania gems.

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges:
Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge Anything Goes Option Ribbon
My Besties 3D and more Anything Goes with a Bestie
My Besties Meet at the Scrapper's Corner Challenge #18
Crafts Galore Encore Use a Stamp or Digi/ DT call
Spectrum Noir November 2015 Challenge

Thanks for visiting today and for your comments, I really do appreciate them. Cathy x

Back to the North Pole

Good morning everybody, hope you've had a great weekend. Today's card is a simple little Christmas card made using the Trimcraft North Pole collection with a few embellishments from other Trimcraft Christmas collections.

I began by inking the edges of a square of background paper with Tea Dye distress ink and added it to a kraft card blank. I cut two banner shapes, one slightly larger than the other, and added these to the left hand top corner.

I took a wooden tree shape, from the Dovecraft Christmas Basics range, and decorated it with some pearls from the Glad Tidings range. I first saw Dawn Wheeler do this when she demonstrated Trimcraft products on Create and Craft and love the effect.

I finished the card with a bow, frame and mini peg.

Thank you for visiting today, I really appreciate all your comments. Cathy x

Happy Birthday Mum!

It's a very special day today as it's my Mum's 70th birthday. I thought I'd share the 2 cards I made for her.

The first one is from my sons, made using Trimcraft Dovecraft Back to Basics III and Serendipity ranges:

What makes this card a bit different is that the picture is actually a fridge magnet. I wanted to find a way to make this great picture into a keepsake and this worked well. Full details are in my Trimcraft gallery

The second card has been made using the new Crafter's Companion Downton Abbey CD-Rom:

This CD is fantastic, especially for fans of the show as my Mum is. I have chosen papers and a topper from the Dowager Countess Violet selection and added lace and pearls. I love the quote on the tag- in my opinion Violet has all the best lines in the show.

We will have a busy evening celebrating this special day and will be repeating it all again soon as my Dad is 70 in 8 days time!

Thanks for visiting today, I appreciate all of your comments x

My Besties UK November Challenge

Happy Monday everyone. October has been and gone so quickly. November is my busiest month of the year, with birthdays for my mum, dad and husband, followed by my youngest son on 1st December, but I do love this time of year.

Today sees the start of a new challenge over at My Besties UK and this is my DT card. Our theme this month is Anything Goes  with option Gold, so I chose this festive My Bestie Image no 008, which is available to buy here. Please pop over to the challenge post to see the other DT cards, as they're all fabulous, and we look forward to seeing lots of lovely entries this month.

I have coloured the image with Spectrum Noir markers but have also used Wink of Stella in Gold for the dress and hat, so they sparkle. The Spectrum Noir colours used are:
Face FS2 FS4 CR2
Fur and Boots EB1 EB2 EB3

The papers I used are from Trimcraft's Jingle All The Way 12x12. These papers are really beautiful, with some foiled pages, so I kept other embellishments simple. I added a gold ribbon and bow, some sequins and some pearls to finish.

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge Christmas
Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Use a Digi

Thank you for visiting and commenting today, I really do appreciate it. Cathy x

Happy Halloween Birthday

Happy Halloween to all those who celebrate it. I have two very excited boys today as they have parties to go to later. My youngest also had a birthday party to go to as well- one of his best friends is four today, so this is his birthday card.

The image is a Sherri-Baldy My Bestie IMG738 available here. It's such a fun cute image and I coloured with Spectrum Noir markers then added a few bats stamped around him.

The papers are fun and bright, perfect for a young boy. They are free downloads, available from the Trimcraft website. I've kept the design simple and just added two webs cut using my Tattered Lace die and some confetti spiders.

Thanks for visiting today. I appreciate all of your comments.

A very special cat

Today's post is, unusually for me, a scrapbook page, made using the Lelli-Bot Crafts Moggies stamp set and Moggies and Doggies Fullworks kit. When I saw the kit, I was reminded of me and my husband's first cat, Jarvis, who was a very special cat. This inspired me to make this page.

I started by stamping the Moggies cat stamp onto watercolour card, using Coffee Archival ink, and coloured it using a Vintage Photo distress marker and a wet brush. I cut this out when dry. I layered the papers, distressing the edges with a Vintage Photo distress ink pad. I added my picture and some twine and charms from the Fullworks kit. I finished off by stamping some paw prints from the Moggies stamp set and adding the stanped cat.

I'm really pleased with the end result- I really love these papers and the fact they are 8x8 makes them great for scrapbooking. It was also a really emotional project for me and will find a special place in our home.

I would like to enter this project for the following challenges:

Eureka Stamps Challenge Pets and Animals

Fantasy Stampers Animal Antics

Lelli-Bot Crafts Challenge Show Us Some Charm

Thank you for visiting today, I appreciate all of your lovely comments. Cathy x

Trick or Treat

Good morning. I haven't had a chance to blog over the last week- I've been busy making some very quick Christmas cards for a church Christmas fair so haven't had much time spare.

Today's card is another Halloween card- although I've actually used this as a birthday card for a girl with a Halloween week birthday.

The papers, tag and cat are all free downloads from the Docrafts website. I added a spider web die cut using a Tattered Lace die (annoyingly I've lost the little spider die which came with it). I've simply finished the card with a ribbon and some gems. I think the overall effect is quite elegant, rather than spooky, but I like it.

Thank you for visiting today and for your comments, I really do appreciate them. Cathy x

Christmas Wishes

Hi everyone. I will be so glad when this week is over- half term next week which means no school runs or work for me :-) Hopefully I'll have lots of crafting time too.

Today's Christmas card feature Trimcraft First Edition Christmas Wishes papers and some stamps that were free with Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine.

I've actually created a snowglobe effect by making a shaker card and adding the snowglobe frame over the top. This was stamped using the free stamp, coloured and cut so that it fitted over the shaker card aperture.

I love these papers with their slightly nordic feel and hope you like this card too.

Products used:
Stamps free with Simply Cards and Papercraft magazine
Trimcraft First Edition Christmas Wishes 8x8 pad, Dovecraft Christmas Basic gold glitter glue, snowflake ribbon, Glad Tidings Pearls
Hunkydory Diamond Sparkles
Crafters Companion Acetate
Papermania Silver Embossing Powder

I would like to enter this card for these challenges:
Crafting Musketeers Christmas with a Ribbon
Creative Craft Cottage Anything Goes


Thanks for visiting today and for all your lovely comments.

Boo to you

Good morning everyone. I am really into making Halloween cards at the moment and here is my latest.

This card is very different to my usual makes as it's the first time I have used a background created using distress inks. I've always admired cards made like this so was keen to give it a try.The distress inks I've used are Seedless Preserves and Spiced Marmalade with a little Black Soot around the edges.

The images are stamped using stamps from Hero Arts (Skelton Dancing) and Hot off the Press (Bats with Swirls), which I recently won in a Facebook giveaway on the Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine page. I used Staz On ink for a crisp image. I then stamped the gravestone again separately using Momento ink and coloured with Spectrum Noir markers, adding it on top of the first image.

The background papers are Graphic 45 Eerie Tale and the ribbon is by Groves. I finished with some purple gems to bring the colours together. 

I would like to enter this card for the following challenges:
Fantasy Stampers Fright Night
Eureka Stamps Challenge 163 Halloween

Thanks for visiting today, I really appreciate all the comments from you.
Cathy x

Messy Bessy

Hi everyone. Somehow it is already the third Monday of October so I'm here with a DT card for My Besties UK.

In today's Same but Different post, we have all used Messy Bessy, a fab Sherri Baldy My Bestie image which you can buy here.  Pop over to the My Besties UK blog to see the other fantastic DT cards- if you leave us a comment, you could win this image.

When I first got the image, I had plans to create an autumn inspired card. However I found these very pretty Lily of the Valley Nitwit papers and so ended up using pink and green.

This card sees me using a few things I haven't used before. I have used a Crafter's Companion square frame die and Tonic Flourish die (I cut the flourish into 3 parts) to add some interest. I never use ready made flowers but had these Scrapberry's ones in my stash and they seemed perfect. The lace, ribbon and pearls are definitely part of my normal style however!

I have coloured using Spectrum Noir markers. There were some new skin and hair combinations for me here too. The colours used are:
Hair TN1 GB1 GB6 GB7
Skin TN1 TN2 FS1 FS7
Eyes TB3
Clothes CR2 CR3 CR4 LG2 LG3

I would like to enter this card for the following challenge:
Cardz 4 Galz Pink and Pearly

Thanks for visiting today and for your lovely comments. Don't forget to pop over to the My Besties UK blog for a chance to win this digi and check out our current challenge whilst you're there.
Cathy x

Quick and Easy Jolly Santa Cards

I can, and often do, take hours over making cards but as Christmas rapidly approaches I've realised that I need to make some quick cards that still look special. These three cards, all made with the Docrafts Jolly Santa range, fit the brief exactly.

For each card I've used papers from the A4 or A5 paper packs, a decoupage image from the A4 decoupage packs, a ribbon and bow. All I've added to these core elements are a few embellishments from my stash.

For the Gingerbread Man card, my son's favourite, I chose to use the gingerbread man separately from the rest of the decoupage tag as a cute embellishment. I have added some pearls as buttons too.

The second card is probably the most traditional of the three and I love this backing paper. The bows in this range are quite large meaning that little more embellishment is needed.

The final card features my favourite colour combination this Christmas, blue and red. I've added a little glitter glue to this image for sparkle (I really don't often do glitter to be honest but this way is less messy) and some blue Papermania gems in the corner.

The great thing now is that I have some design templates that I can use to make quick cards using all of my favourite Christmas ranges.

Thanks for visiting today. I really do appreciate all of your lovely comments.
Cathy x

The Night Before Christmas

As a subscriber to Quick Cards Made Easy magazine, I'm lucky enough to already have the new issue which will be in the shops this week. This month there is a fantastic free gift- a Trimcraft Helz Cuppleditch paper pad and stamp. I couldn't wait to get started with it.

This card is, unusually for me, an A5 card. I've layered three papers on red card for the background and added a Trimcraft Christmas ribbon.

I stamped the image using Momento ink and it stamped beautifully. I coloured using Spectrum Noir pens and added a bit of Trimcraft glitter glue on Santa's hat. The background looked a bit harsh in white so I coloured a piece of watercolour paper using a Stormy Sky distress marker and a wet brush. I cut out my stamped image as closely as I could and added it to the background, then added some tiny Hunkydory gold gems to give a star effect.

The sentiment is from a Crafter's Companion Nordic Christmas stamp but I felt it worked perfectly for this card. I stamped in Paris Blue Momento ink and coloured the card using Faded Jeans distress ink. It was only supposed to be a distressed edge but I got a bit carried away and I like the finished effect .

Thank you for visiting today and for your comments, I do appreciate them all.
Cathy x

Naming Day Card

Just a quick post from me today as my son has his first tag rugby match of the season today and I'm off to watch.

I made this pretty pink card as a Naming Day card. I sometimes find these cards a bit tricky as, inlike Christenings, there's no obvious theme to choose. However, I came across the Trimcraft First Edition It's a Girl paper pad and thought the designs would be perfect.

I made the topper using a sticker from the sheet in the pad. I softened the edges of the oval with Victorian Velvet distress ink. The rest was very simple, 2 different papers (aren't those teddy bears gorgeous?), some ribbon, die cut flowers and gems to finish. The finished card has also been personalised with the child's name.

Thanks for visiting today and thank you for your comments, I really do appreciate them all.
Cathy x

Not so scary...

Hi everyone. Today's card is a Halloween card, although it is probably the least scary Halloween card possible! The image is far too cute to be frightening- she is a Sherri Baldy My Bestie, IMG 043. The digi is available to purchase here.

This card was really an excuse to use some of my huge stash of Grapic 45 papers and embelishments. These are all from last year's Eerie Tale collection. I love Graphic 45 papers but hardly ever feel I do them justice, so they lie unused for months. This time I'm pleased I used them though- I just love the colours and designs of these papers and love the flowers too.

My image was coloured using Spectrum Noir markers. Some of the colours used were:

Skin FS2 FS4 CR3

Dress/ Hat HB2 HB3 LV3 OR1 OR2 

Cauldron IG3 IG5 IG8 CT4 OR1 OR2 OR3

Kitty IG5 IG8

I also used purple and orange fine Stabilo markers for definition.

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

Spectrum Noir October Challenge Use Orange and Gray (their spelling!)

My Besties Dutch Girl Designs Halloween Challenge

My Besties International Anything Goes

Meet at the Scrappers Corner October Challenge

Thanks for visiting and commenting today. It is much appreciated.
Cathy x

My Besties UK October challenge

Hi everyone. Can it really be Monday again? As it's the first Monday of the month, there is a new challenge launching over at My Besties UK. The theme of this challenge is anything goes with option anything but a square.

For my DT card, I created an oval easel card using this gorgeous digi Cherry Blossom. You can buy her in the store here.

The card base is made from Creative Expressions Black Foundation card, using a Tonic Oval Layering die. I coloured the image using Spectrum Noir markers and used papers from the Crafter's Companion Kimono CD. I used First Edition Flower dies and a Sue Wilson Itty Bitty Bow die to add the finishing touches. The sentiment is a stamp from one of the Kimono stamp sets.

Spectrum Noir colours used:

Hair IG3 IG5 IG8

Skin FS2 FS4 CR3

Kimono/Bow GT1 GT2 GT3

Fan/flower LV1 LV2

Thanks for visiting today, I really appreciate all of your comments. I do hope you will pop over to the My Besties UK blog to see the other fabulous DT creations and I look forward to seeing lots of entries in the challenge.

World Card Making Day

Today is World Card Making day, so I couldn't let today pass without making a quick card.

This card has been made from the Trimcraft First Edition Falling Leaves 8x8 paper pad. The butterflies, as in the last post, have been cut from one of the papers. The only additions are some Scrapberry Pearls and a printed sentiment.

I love the colours of these papers, perfect on a lovely autumnal day. What you can't really see here are the beautiful textures and sheens of the papers, they really are lovely.

Thank you for visiting today. I really do appreciate all of your comments x

Mulberry Kisses Special Wish

Hi everyone. I seem to be struggling with my crafty mojo at the moment. I can't blame the weather so not sure where it's gone. However I do have this pretty Trimcraft First Edition Mulberry Kisses card to share.

I was definitely not going to attempt making anything today but then I saw the glittery butterflies in this Paper Pad and changed my mind.

This card really fits into my comfort zone with the colours, layering and lace. The dies used are First Edition Flower dies and the Die'sire Chantilly Lace Frame die. The only difficult thing for me was fussy cutting the butterflies, but these papers cut so well that it was easy to do.

Mulberry Kisses really is a beautiful paper pad, so definitely recommended if, like me, you love this soft feminine look.

I'm entering this card for the very first Cardz 4 Galz challenge. The theme is your favourite colour and anybody who knows me knows that mine is purple :-) Looks like a great new challenge blog so do enter if you can.

Stamping with Folk Floral

Good morning everyone, hope you have a good week. Today's card is another made with the Docrafts Folk Floral range. I do love the papers in this collection so enjoyed making this one.

This is the first time I have used the large heart stamp from the collection and must say it stamped beautifully. I used Momento ink as I have coloured using Spectrum Noir markers and the image was really clear. The sentiment and banner are stamped with Staz On for a crisper look.

The card itself is very simple to make the heart a real stand out element. I began by layering paper on to a kraft card blank. I cut a circle aperture from one of the papers to place over the heart and added this centrally. I die cut flowers using a First Edition die and finished with contrasting buttons.

Thank you for visiting and commenting today, I really do appreciate your comments. Cathy x

Sending Hugs

Hi everyone. Today I'm sharing a card for 'Thinking of You' week.

It's been a tough few months for many in my group of friends. Last week, we lost a friend to cancer after a brief but difficult illness. He was only in his 30s and it has affected us all deeply. Other people I know have also lost people recently and many have suffered from illness. It really has been the most difficult year I've known.

I wanted to make a card to help put a smile on all our faces so the Trimcraft Serendipity range was perfect. I layered the card with the 6 x 6 papers andI die cut the flowers from the papers too. The buttons are also from the collection whilst the frame is from the Dovecraft Back to Basics range and the sentiment stamp is fron the Belle and Boo range.

Thank you for visiting today. I hope this card has sent you all a hug. Cathy xxx

Gorjuss birthday card

Hi everyone. Today I'm sharing a card made for a little girl who is the daughter of some of our best friends. We met when our children were tiny babies and we've built up an amazing friendship since. Special people deserve special cards so I have used the beautiful Docrafts Santoro Gorjuss collection for this.

The stamped image is Little Red and I have coloured her with Spectrum Noir pens. The papers are from the 2014 collection. I have cut a border using a Crafter's Companion BoBunni Floral die and placed this behind a strip of paper layered with lace. The flowers have been cut using First Edition Flower Dies and finished with Scrapberry pearls.

Thank you for visiting and commenting today.

Cathy x

My Besties UK September Same But Different

Hi everyone. We have a new post over at My Besties UK this morning with our Same but Different projects using the gorgeous Little Cutie Patootie digi. Pop over to the blog here and comment on the post to be in with the chance of winning this digi. You can also purchase it in the My Bestie Etsy shop.

Here is my DT make for the post:

I have used BoBunny Isabella papers for this card. They were free with a recent issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine and I love both the colours and Parisian inspired designs. The butterflies were cut using a Crafter's Companion die from the Kimono collection.

As usual, I have used Spectrum Noir markers for colouring. The colours used are:
Clothes: PL1 PL3 BG1 BG2
Skin: FS2 FS4 CR3
Hair: TN8 EB3 EB4

Thanks for popping by today. Don't forget to visit the My Bestie UK blog to see the other fabulous DT creations.
Cathy xxx

Rugby World Cup

My 7 yr old son has been playing rugby (the tag version) for 3 years and we are very excited that it is the start of the Rugby World Cup today. To celebrate I made this Scruffy Little Kitten card, using Alfie the rugby player stamp.

I have used Graphic 45 papers from the Mother Goose 8x8 pad. I hoard Graphic 45 papers so decided to force myself to use them! I have also used the Craftwell Argyle embossing folder which came with my Cut n Boss machine. This was the first time I'd used the machine for embossing and I'm really impressed. The red card is just cheap card from my kids' crafty stash but it has embossed beautifully.

The image has been coloured using Spectrum Noir colours:

Hair TN1 EB1 EB2

Skin FS2 FS4

Clothes IG1 IG2 TB6 TB7 DR2 DR3 IG8 IG9

Ball IG1 IG2 DR3

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

Spectrum Noir September Challenge Embossing

Eureka Stamps Challenge Fall Sports

Allsorts Challenge Buttons

Hope you like this little chap as much as I do. Fingers crossed for an England win tonight xxx

Autumn Leaves

Autumn seems to have come upon us so quickly this year, so I felt an Autumn card was very appropriate.

This card has been made using Trimcraft's new First Edition Falling Leaves paper pads. The papers in these pads are not just beautiful colours but the textures are fabulous too. 

The stamp I've used is The Guide from the Santoro Willow collection. I stamped the image using Staz On ink on watercolour paper. I've used Spectrum Aqua markers to colour her in Autumn colours.

To make the leaves, I started by colouring some thin copier paper with Spectrum Aqua markers, applying the colours with a wet brush to get a wash effect. My using thin paper I not only achieved a crinkly texture like real leaves but also found the colour became mottled in places, an effect I really liked. I then die cut the leaves using X Cut leaf dies.

Spectrum Aqua colours used:

Leaves: Gold, Moss, Chestnut, Marigold

Image: Topaz, Crimson, Gold, Moss, Leaf Green 

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

Crafting Musketeers Autumnal Colours Challenge

Fantasy Stampers Autumn Leaves Challenge

Whimsy Inspirations Challenge

Jolly Santa Snowy Aperture Card

Today I am sharing a new Christmas card made using Docrafts Jolly Santa range. I have used the A5 paper pad and a Decoupage sheet for this card.

Firstly, I made up the front of the card, using two papers and with a strip to hide the join.

Next, I die cut a circle aperture in the front of the card (I'll be using the waste to make a bauble for the Christmas tree). I used a piece of paper as an insert for the card and made up the decoupage image inside the card, ensuring it was lined up to show in the aperture.

I took the frame from the decoupage sheet and attached some Hunkydory Snowfall Acetate to the back, trimming to fit. I attached this over the aperture.

I finished the card with a sentiment and Santa image. I love these papers so have kept the front clean and simple.

Thanks for popping by today, I appreciate all of your comments.

Cathy xxx

Bellissima balloon birthday card

Happy Sunday everyone. This week I was asked to make a 40th Birthday card with an air balloon theme, so I turned to the gorgeous Docrafts Bellissima range to create this simple but pretty card.

I chose the blue dotty paper from the 6x6 paper pack for my background and cut strips from 2 other papers. I love the big dreams sentiment on the second strip so made sure that was showing. 

Next I added the Balloon decoupage from a small decoupage kit to the left of the strip, using Pinflair glue to add the layers.

I fussy cut the balloons from a paper in the pack and added them to the card. Finally I stamped a simple Crafter's Companion sentiment using Momento Sweet Plum ink.

Thanks for popping by today. I really appreciate all your comments xxx

Little Red Robin Christmas card

We are well into September now and I must admit I'm beginning to panic about how far behind I am with Christmas card making. This week I'm trying to catch up, so I have gone back to this year's fabulous Lelli-Bot Christmas collections.

Everything on this card comes from the Lelli-Bot Little Red Robin Redbreast Fullworks kit. I love the ribbons and embellishments in the kit, especially the charms which look great peeking out from the bow.

I would like to enter this card for the Lelli-Bot Craft Challenge Ribbons and Bows

Thank you for visiting and commenting today, I really appreciate all your comments x

My Besties UK- Anything Goes with option Black and White

Good morning everyone. Today I'm sharing my DT card for the new challenge launching at the My Besties UK blog. Our theme is, as always, Anything Goes but with the option Black and White.

For my card, I chose this gorgeous, elegant Sherri Baldy My Bestie image (img031) and teamed it with Trimcraft Dovecraft Monochrome papers.

This gorgeous image is available to purchase here in the Etsy shop.

I finished the card with some daisies made using a Sue Wilson die, a Lelli-Bot Crafts ribbon and some black Scrapberry pearls.

Prior to the challenge I'd never coloured in black and white. I discovered it is quite tricky but I'm pleased with the results. The Spectrum Noir colours I used for the dress and hair were from IG3 to IG8. Her skin is coloured using FS2, FS4 and CR3.

I'd like to enter this card for the following Challenges:
Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge #74
Creative Craft Cottage Let's Get Spotty
Don't forget to pop over to the My Besties UK blog and look at the other beautiful DT cards. We look forward to seeing all your entries. Thanks so much for visiting my blog today x

Belle and Boo Christmas Crackers

I am totally in love with Trimcraft's Belle and Boo Christmas collection. The papers and embellishments are so beautiful, I really wanted to make something special with them so I decided to make some Christmas crackers. These papers are a perfect weight for this project.

The crackers are actually so easy to make but I'm really happy with the way they look and they've been a big hit with friends and on my Trimcraft gallery.

Instructions:

1. Cut the cracker shape from paper using a cracker die or template. I used the Tonic A5 cracker die for mine.

2. Assemble the cracker (it really helps to roll it around a tube to give some shape first, I use the inner tube from cling film) and glue tabs in place. I used Cosmic Shimmer glue as it is quick drying and stays in place.

3. Cut strips of paper to decorate the centre and ends of the crackers. The Belle and Boo pack has papers which have strips of images perfect for this.

4. Tie the ends of the images with twine, attaching buttons or charms before tying bows.

Products used:

Trimcraft Belle and Boo Christmas 8x8 paper pack, wooden buttons

Trimcraft Glad Tidings Twine, Snowflake Metal Charms

Tonic A5 Cracker Die

My son loves these crackers- & has decided they are the perfect size to put Lego Minifigures in. I'd love to know what you would put in yours.

Thanks for visiting and commenting today.
Cathy x

Ticket to Santa

Good morning everyone. For today's post, I have gone back to the Trimcraft North Pole collection.

As before, the main work in this card was layering papers from the pad but they all combine so well. I used the striped paper in the background to create an airmail feel.

One of the papers in this fab collection has tickets to Santa on it, which I felt would be good cut out separately. I added this to the card using a cute little peg to hang it from a piece of twine.

Finally I stamped a Crafters Companion sentiment using Fired Brick Distress Ink and used a North Pole frame to frame it.

Thanks for popping by and commenting today, I really appreciate you taking the time to visit.
Cathy xxx

Belle and Boo Christmas Card

Hi everyone. This week has been so busy and I can't quite believe it's back to school for the kids next week.

Today I'm sharing a card I've made using the Trimcraft Belle and Boo Christmas range. I love the Belle and Boo characters and the papers in this range are just fabulous, perfect for layering.

This is a sweet and simple card, featuring a decoupage image from the decoupage pad and finished with a wooden shape and button. The sentiment stamp is also from the Belle and Boo range.

Thanks for popping by today, I really do appreciate all your lovely comments xxx

North Pole Christmas

Today I'm sharing my first Christmas card from the Trimcraft Dovecraft North Pole range. I just love the vintage feel of these papers and they look great layered together with kraft card. The card is finished with some twine and a stamped sentiment from the Glad Tidings range.

Thanks for popping by today, I'll be sharing more cards from the Trimcraft Christmas ranges later in the week so hope you can join me again.