Sweet Blog Award!

I received this lovely award from Tracy over at Country Mouse. Thank you Tracy! Now to receive this award I am required to acknowledge the giver (Done), tell you 7 facts about myself and pass the award on to 8 lovely bloggers.

Mmmm 7 Facts about me?

(Will try and make it interesting !!)


1. I have one grown up daughter named Christina who is doing a History PHD.


2. Favourite foods are Hawaiian Pizza, Chicken Korma, Black Forest Gateau, Strawberries and anything!!! (ooh I could have cheated and made that into 4 facts LOL)


3. My favourite films are The Bounty, Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut) and Lost in Translation.


4. I have been cardmaking for 5 years but only discovered Stamping late last Summer/Autumn. I really liked the LOTV Christmas Stamps and so bought 'Skating Along',  'Dropping The Shopping' and 'Christmas Candle'. I had vowed I would never stamp as I was completely useless at it but loved the stamps so much that I tried and tried again. Now I think it's safe to say I'm addicted!!

Ok now I'm getting quite stuck - I think I am getting quite boring in my old age !!! LOL


5. My favourite music varies depending on my mood. I like Soundtracks of 'The Tudors' and 'Camelot' and some of my favourites are:- Whitesnake, Van Halen, Kate Bush, Stevie Nicks and Snow Patrol. 


6. I am 5 foot 4 1/2  inchest tall and have blue/grey/yellow eyes!!!! At school when we had those projects where you have to write down facts about a friend. It would always end up in argument about what colour my eyes are !!! An optician once told me they were the coolest eyes he had seen - dark grey around edges, then going into grey/blue but with yellow starbursting into them rofl .... I think he should have gone to Specsavers!!!!


7. I have one foot slightly bigger than the other. One is Size 6 and one is 5 1/2. Now isn't that interesting - not!! it is a pain sometimes when buying shoes, because one shoe can be a bit too big!!!

Ok the last couple were a bit lame but I wanted to do some new facts!!!

I have just been trying to decide who to pass this on to and I really cannot decide. Also some of the people who I was going to pass it on to have just been given it ... so:-  :-))

I would like to pass this award on to ALL my Followers!!! I really appreciate all your encouraging feedback. I have off days when my cards don't go right, and when I read all your wonderful comments it really lifts me and spurs me on. So this is to say Thank You!!

This AWARD is JUST FOR YOU!!!!

Love Sue xx

Follow Your Dreams ...

Ooh! glad my internet is back on today. This is a card that I wanted to do for the 'Where in The World' Challenge over at Oldie But a Goodie. This little elephant is one of the first batch of stamps that I ever bought. So it really is an Oldie but a Goodie!!! It's only a small stamp, so I have used smaller card blank.

The stamp is from a really nice Clear Magic Stamp Set called 'Indian Dreams' available from Handy Hippo.  I coloured the little fella with Promarkers and tried to make him nice and bright so he stands out. I hope that he isn't too overshadowed by the Taj Mahal!!!

This is the Taj Mahal Free Clip Art image that I used from Microsoft Office page. I changed the colour to white in iPhoto Software so that I could colour it.  I have used artistic licence here and coloured it Pink!! No offence to the Taj Mahal as I LOVE the building, but I coloured it Ivory and it didn't look as good on this card. If I could travel to India, the Taj Mahal is one of the places that I would love to see.

The cloud background was done with a little cloud template that I made for Easter Card a couple of months back. I used Bahama Blue Memento Ink and my new Ink Duster Brushes. I am SO happy with these brushes. A big Thank You! to Bev Rochester for sharing this method on her Tutorial!!! I have wanted to use Distress Inks for so long and I am just no good with sponge!!! I also then bought the proper Ink Blending Tool and I still couldn't get it right. I am really happy with these brushes!!

Promarkers Colouring:-

Elephant: Cool Greys 2, 3 & 4

Elephant's Decorations: Rose Pink and Blossom

Grass: Meadow Green

Taj Mahal: Rose Pink, Blossom and Cool Grey 4 

I made the sentiment on computer. And that's it really. I think that it's quite a Clean and Simple design. I know there is no white background but I think there is a feeling of space about it, especially in the clouds.

I would like to enter this into the following Challenges:-

Pollycraft - Challenge 98 - 'Travel/Holidays' (ends 27th June 2011)
Oldie but a Goodie - Challenge 21 - 'Where in The World' (ends 27th June 2011)
I Love Promarkers - Challenge 71 - 'Anything Goes' (ends 28th June 2011)
Moving Along with the Times - Challenge 104 - 'Clean and Simple' (ends 29th June 2011)
Dutch Dare - Challenge 118 - 'Clean & Simple' (ends 29th June 2011)

Thanks for all your lovely comments on my last post! I think it was me who blew a fuse!! LOL The fuse didn't help on the DVD Player!!! I didn't really think it would as there was a loud bang from inside the DVD, so I think it was something major! it is completely dead! as my television picture was fed through dvd it was all fuzzy, but I have managed to pull that Scart Plug out by feel. I can't bend and stretch to do it with my spine/arthritis problems and my daughter is away at the moment. So just felt at back and yanked the thing out!!! LOL anyway, my telly works now at least!!! so big smile!! I can watch Neighbours tonight...

Take care and thanks for visiting!
Love Sue xx

Born To Be Wild ....

Ooh I'm not a happy bunny today! in fact quite an angry little bunny LOL!!! my internet keeps going off. I took a better photo of this card and it won't upload! I thought I would leave it and watch Wimbledon but I have no picture on my telly. The DVD blew up a couple of nights ago and died and it has affected the picture on my telly! I'm waiting for 5amp fuse off Amazon to see if that will fix it. But it's been one of those weeks!! My creativity mojo has gone walkabout, so if anybody sees it could you send it back to me please LOL!!!

The gorgeous image is Lili of The Valley's "Zooming Along" and is perfect for a male card! The paper is from Papermania "A Christmas Carol" and is nice rich design. The sentiment was made on computer and is of course inspired by that wonderful song "Born To Be Wild" by Steppenwolf and so it fits the Challenges 'Bring on The Music' at Lili of The Valley and also 'Inspired by a Song' at Moving Along With The Times. I made the corners and they are supposed to resemble black snakeskin!!! I drew a snake pattern on card and then filled each section with glossy accents. I am quite pleased with the results. I wanted to create the look of very posh car interior? Although I'm not sure the corners work well here. Maybe I should have done just 2 corners but then it looked odd cos they are quite heavy looking. 

I used some black ribbon across centre and a 'manly bow' (just for Laurie !!). Finally some 3mm red gems from Anita's Gemstone Wheel. I was going to put a strip of paper with music on across centre but it didn't look right. So decided to stick with Clean and Simple look. I have to say I am not happy with this card. I think I will look back on it and say dis-as-ter!!!

Colouring:- 

(Promarkers unless numbered)

Bear: Copic E31, E33

Helmet: Tan & Cinnamon

Goggles: Cool Grey 3, 4 and Glossy Accents

Scarf: Honeycomb and Copic G85

Car: Ruby, Cool Greys 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and Silver Stickles

I would like to enter this into the following Challenges:-

Lili of the Valley - Challenge 101 - 'Bring on The Music' (ends 22nd June 2011)

Moving Along with the Times - Challenge 103 - 'Inspired by a Song' (ends 22nd June 2011) 

Delightful Challenges - 'Anything Goes' (ends 22nd June 2011)

Craft Us Crazy - Challenge 10 - 'Father's Day and/or Masculine Colours' (ends 22nd June 2011)

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge 169 - 'Birthstones' (Ruby and Onyx) (ends 22nd June 2011)

Dutch Dare - Challenge 117 - 'For the Boys' (ends 22nd June 2011) 

Oldie But a Goodie - Challenge 21 - 'Where in The World' Le Mans, France! (ends 26th June 2011) 

Ladybug Crafts Ink - Challenge 33 - 'Use Red' (ends 26th June 2011)

Tuesday Throwdown - Challenge 54 - 'Masculine Card' (ends 27th June 2011) 

At least the sun is shining here in Manchester!! Hope it is wherever you are!

edit:  James Bear is doing a little detour in his vintage car and has just texted me to say that he has arrived in Le Mans, France!!! so he can enter the 'Where in The World' Challenge on Oldie But a Goodie. Hurrah!

Love Sue xxx

Mmmm.... Strawberries and Cream!

It's Wimbledon next week! So I was pleased to see the challenge of 'Strawberries and Cream' at  Whiff of Joy and Crafts 4 Eternity.  Also, I love Strawberries, especially dipping them in white chocolate and allowing them to set!! Mmmm....

The gorgeous image is 'Willow with Strawberry Basket' by Whiff of Joy and is by Elisabeth Bell!! I do love her designs. The image is mounted on Nellie Snellen oval die.

The backing paper is Nitwits Collection, Strawberry Social - Leaves. The gorgeous pink card across the middle is Sherbet Pips Flittered Card (try saying that quickly!!) - Velvet Pink, and has lovely raised glittery dots. Papermania Cream Card was used for the Trellis Border using Martha Stewart Punch and for the swirls which were done on Creatables Die. Yay, I treated myself to a flourish !!! I had to order some ink and thought to make the postage worthwhile, I will buy a swirl !!! LOL (that's my excuse anyway!)

Colouring:-

(Promarkers by name, Copics by No.)

Skin: Copic E00 and R20

Hair: Tan and Cinnamon, Prisma Pencils (and other Copics I forget which, I kept tweaking!) 

Dress: Meadow Green, Apple, 

Apples: Copic G85 and Pear Green

Underskirt: R20 and Pastel Pink

Basket: Tan

Strawberries: R46 and Clear Star Sakura Glitter Pen

(what a mish mash! LOL)

The gorgeous roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts. Strawberry Charm is from Simon Says Stamps and is part of prize that I won a while back. Buttons, bow and red sentiment die topper are from stash. Sentiment is from a Molly Blooms stamp set that I got free with magazine. I've found that I use it a lot as it is really nice size!

I would like to enter this into the following Challenges:-

Crafts 4 Eternity - Challenge 23 - 'Strawberries and Cream' (ends 9am 17th June 2011)
Totally PaperCrafts - Challenge 70 - 'Summer'  (ends 16th June 2011
Sweet Stampin - 'Food Glorious Food'  (ends 17th June 2011)
The Crafty Pad - Challenge 125 -  'Just Because You Can' (ends 18th June 2011)
Top Tip Tuesday - Challenge 38 - 'Open Challenge' (ends 20th June 2011)
Whiff of Joy - Challenge 106 - 'Strawberries and Cream' (ends 21st June 2011)

Ah well, let's hope that the rain goes away next week for Wimbledon and Glastonbury, and for anybody who is going away on holiday!

Just realised that I hadn't updated my profile. It said that I was 47. Wasn't sure whether to just leave it, then when I get to 60 it would still say 47!!! tee hee.

Thanks for visiting and for all your lovely comments!
Love Sue xx

Fly Away!

Ooh the sun is shining here in Manchester today! Hope it is shining for you too! Next Sunday is Father's Day and as I wanted to make an extra special card for my dad, I chose this gorgeous Penny Black stamp which is called 'Fly Away.' I love the way the little boy is looking off into the distance wistfully and the faithful dog by his side. Lovely image! and I think my dad will like it.

The papers are Serif 'Spring in Your Step' - and they were freebie in Scrapbook magazine. They were a very nice set of papers and they were perfect for male cards!! The border, corners and mount edgings were done with scissors. Buttons, ric rac and gems are from stash. Gorgeous green card is from Papermania Capsule 'Fresh Verde' pack. I have just bought some more Papermania Card as I love it! The sentiment is again one from the gorgeous 'Dreamy Sentiments' set from Lili of the Valley and mounted on Nestablities. The DAD letters I printed from computer. Then coloured them Cornflower Blue to match and added Glossy Accents to make them look funky!

Colouring: Promarker unless numbered

Hat and Suit: Meadow Green, Soft Green

Skin: Almond and Blush

Hair: Copic E33 and E35

Dog: Copic E31, E33 and E35

Dog's Hat: Copic E35 and Cinnamon

Plane, Shoes, Trimmings: Pastel Blue and Cornflower

Insert

I would like to enter this into the following Challenges:-

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 115 - 'Card for Dad/ Man in Your Life!' (ends 14th June 2011) 

C.R.A.F.T - Challenge 106 - 'Father's Day' (ends 15th June 2011) 

PaperPlay - Challenge 23 - 'Father's Day/Man's Card' (ends 15th June 2011) 

One Stop - Challenge 135 - 'Father's Day' (ends 17th June 2011) 

Penny Black - Challenge 155 - 'One for The Guys' (ends 17th June 2011) 

Secret Crafter - Challenge 138 - 'A Male Card' (ends 17th June 2011) 

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 61 - 'Father's Day, Card for Dad' (ends 17th June 2011) 

Incy Wincy Designs - Challenge 98 - 'Father's Day/Masculine' (ends 19th June 2011)

Top Tip Tuesday - Challenge 38 - 'Open Challenge' (ends 20th June 2011)

Poodles Parlour - Challenge 1 - 'Anything Goes' (ends 23rd June 2011) 

Dream Valley - Challenge 9 - 'Father's Day' (ends 25th June 2011) 

Ooh La La Creations  - Challenge 82 - 'Father's Day/Special Man' (ends 26th June 2011) 

Tip (Top Tip Tuesday)

I used to get my Promarker Blender Pen mixed up with my Cool Greys as it looks very similar. So I put a red elastic band on my Blender Pen! Now it is easy to find quickly and just the feel of the rubber band as you pick it up let's it know it's your Blender! 

I have done quite a few 'male cards' of late and they are really growing on me! There are so many wonderful images that are suitable for men at the moment! It's great! I hope we still get some male challenges every once in a while after Father's Day!!!

Hope you are all keeping well
Thanks for visiting and for your lovely comments!
Love Sue xx

Something for Dad

This is a quick card that I made with the Polka Doodles free download last week for their Blog Hop, but I missed the card deadline! I think I must be getting old - I keep getting all my dates mixed up! Anyway, as this week's theme at Polka Doodles is 'Something for Dad', I thought i would enter it. 

The free download had papers, images and sentiments that were all really nice - thank you Polka Doodles! It was quite fun to see what I could come up with using the kit. I chose the green paper and the above sentiment which I mounted on Nellie Snellen oval. Then used layers of contrasting coloured card to jazz it up a bit and added ribbons, gems and pearls. I couldn't decide whether to add bow or not, but felt it needed it. It's a 'masculine' bow!!! blue for a boy!

 I would have liked to have done a simple tie bow with the gingham ribbon that I used but I ran out of ribbon!! I will have to restock on ribbon soon and tidy my ribbon box - it's such a mess!! and most of the ribbon now is little scrap pieces. I have been using a lot of ribbons that I have collected free with magazines. But a lot are from new tops and dresses that me or family have bought, the ribbons to hang them up!! But strangely with the 'clothes hanger' ribbons,  I have collected some really cool colours and also they are really good quality !!! tee hee! But I will have to hop over to Ribbon Girl very soon!

I would like to enter this into the following Challenges:-

Fab'n Funky - Challenge 76  - 'Magnificent Men' (ends 14th June 2011)  

Polka Doodles - Challenge 23 - 'Something For Dad' (ends 19th June 2011) 

Crazy 4 Challenges - Challenge 91 - 'Masculine Card or Project' (ends 17th June 2011) 

Sentimental Sunday - Challenge 59 - 'Father's Day Card' (ends 18th June 2011)

Craft Us Crazy - Challenge 10 - 'Father's Day and/or Masculine Colours (ends 22nd June 2011)

Would like to say big welcome to my new followers and thank you for visiting and all your lovely comments!

Hope you are all having a fab weekend! 

Love Sue xx

Little Grey Rabbit

Well we have just had a 'cracking' thunderstorm here in Manchester, UK!! We even had hail which covered the street and it really looked like winter - certainly not June. Anyway, yesterday I felt like making a grey card - no idea why but just fancied grey and pink! I thought I would ink up this gorgeous Lili of The Valley stamp that I bought recently. Isn't he a gorgeous bunny!

Lili of The Valley's Challenge this week is 'Punch it Up' so I've tried to incorporate a few different punches/dies. The image is mounted on a Nellie Snellen Die Frame. The Lili of the Valley Sentiment is from their 'Dreamy Days' set and mounted on nestabilities. The Trellis edging border and corner are done with Martha Stewart punch. And finally, the little grey leaves are done with Papermania Leaf Punch. The gorgeous Design Paper is from V & A Hanoverian Stack. The beautiful roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I have added a little Star Dust Stickles.

Colouring: Promarkers

Rabbit: Cool Grey 1,2,3 and 4

Grass: Meadow Green 

Parcel: Blossom and Rose Pink

Parcel Ribbon: Lilac and Lavender

Butterflies: Rose Pink, Amethyst, Blossom, Star Dust Stickles

I also added a touch of shading with Prisma Pencils on Grass, Butterflies, Ribbon and Bunny's pink ear!

I thought I'd show the quick insert that I do for most of my cards as I have used the Papermania leaf punch on it and it also shows that it is a 'Birthday' card for the challenges.

And that's it really. It would have been a quick card but I have to confess I fiddled about for ages trying out different layouts and changing my mind!! LOL

I would like to enter this into the following Challenges:-

Lili of the Valley - Challenge 99 - 'Punch It Up' ends 8th June 2011
Ooh La La Creations - Challenge 81 - 'Happy Birthday' ends 12th June 2011
Scrap Creations - 'Birthday' ends 13th June 2011

Thanks for looking and all your lovely comments - I really do appreciate them all! 

Let's hope we get Summer back very soon here in UK!

Love Sue xx

Gone Fishing!

This is the gorgeous TeddyBo and a stamp called 'Gone Fishing'. My friend Chrissy has done a lot of Teddy Bo cards and she colours them so beautifully with Prismacolor Pencils, so thanks Chrissy for introducing me to Teddy Bo and Prisma! I have seen this image on quite a few websites and thought my dad would love it, so when my daughter asked me to make a Father's Day card to give her grandfather I thought this would be just the ticket! It's perfect for Father's Day or male Birthday. 

The papers are from Papermania 'Verde Paper Pack'. Image is mounted on Nestabilities. Sentiment is from Lili of The Valley 'Dreamy Days' Set. Button, string, frog, gems are from stash. Little leaves are done with Papermania leaf Punch. 

I think I got a bit carried away with my shading and was a tad heavy with the French Grey Prisma and so he looks quite a weathered old bear now, bless LOL !! 

Colouring:-

Bear Skin: Promarker Vanilla

Hat, Jacket and Boots: Copic G85, Promarker Pear Green

Rod: Promarker Tan

Tackle Box: Promarkers Cool Grey 1, 3 & 4

Fish: Promarkers Cool Grey 1, 2 and 3 and Stickle (Stickleback rofl ....)

Grass: Meadow Green

Shading with Prismacolour Pencils: 

Bear: 1074 and 925

Hat, Jacket and Boots: 911

Rod: 948

Grass: 912

  Touch of Sky: 904

The trouble I had photographing this card! Ah well, think this is as good as I can get it. Going to get some sunshine in garden now as I need Vitamin D!!! I was severely deficient in it and have to take really strong doses of it!!

I would like to enter this into the following Challenges:-

Totally Gorjuss - Challenge 82 - 'Strings the Thing' (ends 3rd June 2011) 

Incy Wincy Designs - Challenge 96 - 'Nature' (ends 5th June 2011)  

Pollycraft - Challenge 95 - 'Be My Teddy Bear' (ends 5th June 2011)  

Polka Doodles - Challenge 21 - 'Male Theme' (ends 5th June 2011) 

Creative Inspirations - Challenge 114 - 'Cute Bears/Animals Only!' (ends 7th June 2011) 

Simon Says - 'Father's Day/For a Male' (ends 7th June 2011)

Craft Your Days Away - Challenge 21 - 'Father's Day/Special Man' (ends 9th June 2011) 

Fussy & Fancy 'Card for a Man or Boy' (ends 16th June 2011) 

Crafty Calendar - 'Teddy Bears'  May Challenge