Happy Halloween!

Hi all, it's a beautiful sunny day and blue skies here in Manchester and it's nice to feel the warm sun - hope it is sunny for you too !!!  This is a card that I made just for fun! Lots of sparkle and glitter!

The image is from Bugaboo Stamps and is called Stella - Wicked Witch. I love Stella, just looking at her makes me chuckle. I can just imagine her saying "Happy Halloween" in a very deep, droll voice! hee hee! I also think she has a look of Lily Savage about her - which is fab! The paper was a freebie from Bearly Mine Designs. As soon as I saw this paper, I knew that I had to make a card with it - it prints out beautifully too.

Sentiment was made on computer. Heart Gems are from Stash. The spiders were made with Gems and pieces of glitter string. Now the moon and stars sparkle really beautifully but could I catch it on a photo? No, of course not!!! Well I did, but then the image was completely out of focus!!

Colouring:

Skin: E00, E02

Black: Promarker Cool Grey 5 and Black

Purple: Copics V12 & V15

Moon & Stars: Cool Grey 1 & 3

Kars Glitter

I would like to wish you all a Happy Weekend! and if you are celebrating Halloween - then hope you have lots of fun !!!

Halloween was always lots of fun when my brother and I were growing up. We never did Trick or Treating, but had our own little party at home. Mum always bought us a Swede each and we would carve it out. Well, usually I would do a bit and then I was too weak to carry on, so either my brother or mum would finish hollowing it out LOL. Then we would put candles in and attach string handles. We would have Sparklers in the garden and take photos of our lanterns.

Me in 60's - Halloween (sorry my head's chopped off!!)

Then back inside for food and games. We would have Baked Potatoes, Soup and then Ginger Cake and Candy Coated Apples. We would play Bobbing For Apples and sometimes have conker fights which I loved!!! Mum would always let me cheat and soak it in vinegar !! LOL Ah Happy Days! It's good to look back sometimes!

I would like to enter my card into the following Challenges:-

For the Paper Sundaes Challenge, I have used the Toppings of Black and Sparkle.

Allsorts - Challenge 126 - 'Halloween' (ends 28th October 2011)
Sweet Stampin - 'Halloween' (ends 28th October 2011)
Dream Valley - Challenge 18 - 'Halloween' (ends 29th October 2011)
Paper Sundaes - Challenge 92 -  'Black, Sparkle, Flowers, Distressing' (ends 29th October 2011)
Pollycraft - Challenge 116 - 'Spooky Goings On' (ends 30th October 2011)
Scrap Creations - 'Doing it Digi' (ends 31st October 2011)
Top Tip Tuesday - Challenge 57  - 'Trick or Treat' (ends 31st October 2011)
Digi Doodle - Challenge 80 -  'Anything Goes' (ends 2nd November 2011)
PaperPlay - Challenge 43 - 'Halloween/Witches!' (ends 2nd November 2011)
Stampin' For The Weekend Challenge 19 - 'Spooky' (ends 3rd November 2011) 
Paper Crafting Journey - Challenge 22 - 'Use a Digi' (ends 9th November 2011)

BTW - If you happen to buy the current copy of Papercraft Essentials, then keep a sharp eye out for my card on page 75. There is a Stitchy Bear Advert and my Steampunk Sally Card is amongst the examples. Remember I won the 'Pretty in Print' Contest a couple of months back. Now the photo of my card is not very big (2.5cm) and my poor dad had to put his special reading glasses on and an extra lamp to see it - but he was really chuffed when he recognised it from the card I showed him couple of months back, bless him!!! Also, there is a free gift of some rather nice Polka Doodles Stamps with the mag! ;-)

Have a great weekend!

Thank you SO much for all your comments, I really do appreciate them!! :-)

Love n Hugs

Sue xx

Moving Along With The Times (DT Card) - Challenge 122 - No Girls Allowed!!

Morning all, hope you are all well this Thursday morning. It's time for another Challenge over at

Moving Along With The Times

Shell is our lovely hostess this week and she has chosen the theme of ....

No Girls Allowed!!

So we want to see a card for a bloke! There are so many wonderful images available now that can be used on male cards. I've used this fab image called 'Born to Rock' by Stitchy Bear Stamps. Isn't it gorgeous? Stitchy Bear very kindly gave us some Images and a Digital Paper Pack called Doodleboys to use and I have to say I love these papers - they are perfect for male card.

I mounted the papers on dark brown card and coloured in the image with Copics and Promarkers. Finally I added some small gold pearls. Quite a simple card, but I love it. Hope you like it too!

I have highlighted the 'Born to Rock' sign with Lime Green Glitter Pen, so it glistens like it is lit up. Looks good in real life but hard to photograph. 

We are sponsored this week by Stitchy Bear Stamps who are kindly offering a fab prize of $10 Voucher to spend instore. How cool is that !!

Don't forget to hop on over to MAWTT Website for more details of the Challenge and to see the rest of the Design Team's gorgeous creations! 

I am enjoying being on the Design Team. I love the Challenges and also Commenting as I get to visit all your blogs and see so many gorgeous creations.

Sorry if I have been a bit quiet of late. Truth is that I am still adjusting to the colder weather. October is always a shock to my system and my pain levels (arthritis) go through the roof. Every year I think the pain can't get any worse!! so I don't know why I'm always so surprised when it does!! Anyway, it's just a matter of coping strategies and keeping warm etc. etc. I think I am going to get the TENS machine out and my Heat Pad. 

Anyway, enough dwelling on my aches and pains, I know a lot of people out there also have them !! That is why I do crafting, it focuses the mind and lifts my mood. So you will probably see lots of glitter coming up on my cards LOL.  

I can't wait until Saturday, it's the Halloween Special of Strictly. I just love all the sparkle and razzle dazzle - really cheers me up. 

Scrap Creations have a Challenge this week called 'Doing it Digi' and they want you to use digi images and digi paper. Also, if you leave a comment and mention your Top 3 Digi Companies, one lucky winner  will be drawn at random and receive $10 Voucher to spend at their No. 1 Favourite Digi Company. How cool is that !!! So as I have used digi image and digi paper ......

I would like to enter this card into the following Challenge:-

Scrap Creations 'Doing it Digi' (ends 31st October 2011) 

Hope you are all well!

Not long until Weekend!

Hugs Sue xx

Moonlight Pumpkins!

Hi all, this is my second post today. Please scroll down for my MAWTT Post. I started this card weeks ago!! So thought I'd better finish it off before Autumn and Halloween are actually over!! I've used the image 'Moonlight Pumpkins' and digitally arranged it onto some fab paper from a Set called 'A Dark and Scary Night' - and both are from Stitchy Bear Stamps. I flipped the moon background and lightened it a little as I wanted the moon to look white rather than yellow. 

The image is coloured with Copics and Prismacolor Pencils for dark shading. Lots of Stickles on inside of pumpkins to look like they are lit up, and on candle flame and top of her dress. None of the sparkles really show up though unfortunately. Had trouble with light while photographing. I've added some red gems and silver pearls to make a tiara. Not sure why but the red gems look orange! Trick of the Light!

I really would have liked to add some Halloween embellishements. Maybe a spider or a witch charm but haven't got any in my stash. The Red Roses are from Wild Orchid Crafts and I've added some black leaves that Laurie very kindly gave me (thank you teamie!).  I quite liked the look but then realised you wouldn't get roses in late October? or would you?.... oh well, Halloween is a magical night so I am giving her some Red Roses LOL.

Every time I pick up this card I start singing Phantom of The Opera. Not sure why? She does look a bit like a young Sarah Brightman, so maybe that is why?  hee hee.

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

Fussy & Fancy - 'Fall or Halloween' (ends 20th October 2011)  

Challenge up your life - Challenge 54 - 'Halloween' (ends 21st October 2011) 

One Stop - Challenge 153 - 'Halloween' (ends 21st October 2011)

Cupcake Inspirations - Challenge 132 - 'Halloween' (ends 22nd October 2011) 

Paper Sundaes - Challenge 91 -  'Halloween or Fall' (ends 22nd October 2011) 

Creative Card Crew - 'Spooky Fun' (ends 24th October 2011)  

Papertake Weekly - Challenge 70 - 'Spooooky Hues' (ends 24th October 2011)
PaperPlay - Challenge 42 - 'Use Black' (ends 26th October 2011) 

Craft Your Days Away - Challenge 31 - 'Halloween Colours' (ends 27th October 2011) 

Dream Valley - Challenge 18 - 'Halloween' (ends 29th October 2011)  

Creative Stamp Friends - Challenge 36 - 'Halloween' (ends 30th October 2011) 

Divas by Design - Challenge 13 - 'Something Spooky' (ends 1st November 2011)

Not long until weekend! and then Strictly, Yay! Oh and Downton Abbey. What have they done to my poor Matthew! But he is alive at least. I will nurse him better!! ;-))

Thank you for all your lovely comments!
Hope you are all well
Hugs Sue xx

Teddy Bo Goes Golfing - and Some Exciting News!

A friend asked me to make a card for her dad's 80th birthday. I couldn't resist using my favourite bear of all - Teddy Bo. Teddy Bo Challenge has a challenge 'My Favourite Colours'. Now I like a lot of different colour combos but I think anyone who looks back at my cards will know that I use a LOT of Green and Browns!!! so I think this really is my favourite colour combination!

The paper is from a Die Cuts With a View Stack called Latte. I think some of these papers are quite retro and I love them! 

Sentiment was made on computer. Ribbon from stash. Image background dusted with Memento Bamboo Leaves Ink.

Colouring:-

Teddy Bo: Blush and Tan Promarkers

Golfing Bag: Tan and Cinnamon Promarkers

Teddy Bo Clothes: G82 and G85 Copic

Golf Clubs & Socks: Cool Grey 3, 4 and 5 Promarkers

Shading with Prismacolor Pencils

Now for my exciting news!!! Hazel from Moving Along With The Times contacted me and asked me to join their Design Team!! Woo Hoo!! (Trumpet Fanfare!) I hope I can do the team justice! it's my very first Design Team proper, so a bit nervous. But it is very Cool !!!!

Thursday was such a lovely day for me! I felt like all my Christmases had come at once! First I got a lovely surprise card from Teresa to say Thank You for the blog candy. It's a beautiful card! It sparkles and is gorgeous - I love it!!! So Thank You Teresa!!!

Then my order from Handy Hippo arrived. I had a wee bit of spending money this month and so ordered some wooden snowflakes and trees and they are gorgeous. You can't always tell when you look at them online, but they look fab. Finally Hazel asked me to be on the Design Team! So lovely day all told!

Back to my card .....

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

Teddy Bo Challenge - Challenge 19 - 'My Favourite Colours' (ends 16th October 2011)

Hope you are all well!
And hope you are enjoying Strictly and It Takes Two as much as I am, and the X Factor!
Love n Hugs!
Sue xx

Autumn Leaves

I love the colours of Autumn and as it's my mum's birthday next month, thought I would make a cute card for my dad to give her. The gorgeous image is from a set called 'Autumn Antics' by David Parkins. They were a free set of digi images with Simply Cards mag few years ago. The other images are all so cute too - I found it difficult choosing which one to use. So it does pay to sort through those mags ;-)) as you find little treasures like this. 

The paper is also freebie with Quick Cards - Issue 91. If you register you can download them and they are gorgeous. I am going through a glitter phase at the moment, probably because it's so dull and miserable outside! I've used a load of Ultra Fine Glitter - Chocolate Brown on edges of card.

The delish ribbon and gems were part of my fab prize from Ready-Teddy-Go Challenge. Thanks girls! Sentiment was made on computer.

Colouring is a mixture of Copics and Spectrums. G82, G85 Green Copics. E00, E02 for skin. I can't remember the browns I used! and I only coloured it yesterday!! I think it was E57 Copic mixed with one of the lighter golden Spectrums. I got so excited mixing them together that I forgot to make a note LOL

I also decorated the inside to match.

I would like to apologise if any of you visited my Blog on Sunday and noticed a lot of my photos were missing!!! Stupid me only went and deleted my photos from the Picasa Album!! I did do it after going to the pub on Saturday.  It was the beer festival and I had a couple of strong beers! Don't even remember how I got onto the Picasa Album page!!! LOL but I remember thinking - oh those look like all the photos off my webpage!! Oops! It took me most of Sunday to replace the important ones. Was really fed up! Anyway, now you know why I don't drink alcohol very often !!!! hee hee.

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

Crafts & Me - Challenge 55 -  'Use a Digi' (ends 11th October 2011)  

Simon Says - 'Sparkle and Bling'  (ends 11th October 2011)  

Moving Along with the Times - Challenge 119 - 'Autumn Leaves' (ends 12th October 2011) 

PaperPlay - Challenge 40 - 'Autumnal Colours' (ends 12th October 2011)  

Paper Sundaes - Challenge 90 - 'Favourite Colour Combination' (AUTUMN COLOURS) (ends 15th October 2011)

Creative Stamp Friends - Challenge 35 - 'Autumn Colours' (ends 16th October 2011)  

Stamps R Us - 'Autumn/Fall' (ends 16th October 2011) 

Stampin' For the Weekend - Challenge 18 - 'Colours of Autumn' (ends 19th October 2011) 

Hope you are all well and have a great week!

Hugs Sue xx

Totally Tropical Tilda

The heatwave put me in the mood for making a Tropical Card. I won Hawaii Tilda stamp a few weeks ago in Bev's draw. Thank you Bev! and thank you Simon Says Stamp. When it came in the post,  it was inked up within a couple of hours. That's a first for me!! Isn't she gorgeous?!!

The paper is from a Kate Knight Totally Tropical Stack which was freebie with magazine. I have used about half a bottle of Gold Stickle!! I've had this bottle for about 13 months and never used it !!! But thought it would look gorgeous with the orange and I wanted the card to really sparkle like the sun!!! :-)) The orange border across middle was done by cutting strips of card with wavy scissors, stickling the edges and gluing them together. 

 Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I've sprayed the Gardenias with touch of Pearl Glimmer Mist.

The gorgeous charm was a birthday gift from my daughter back in March. It's an unusual colour combo but when I put this card together I thought it would be perfect as it's orange and pink. 

The colouring I can't remember as I coloured the image weeks ago! but used Copics and Promarkers. I've dusted around the image with Bahama Blue Memento Ink.

For the 'Happy *World* Card Making Day' Challenge over at Our Creative Corner, I chose Hawaii, because it's a country that gives inspiration in so many ways:- Colourful, Friendly, Exotic, Flowers, Bright, Cheerful, Sun, Sea, Sand .... you get the picture (sigh). I have never been - but would love to!!

Also decorated the inside with paper from the same stack.

Having trouble photographing with the dull light. Just couldn't get it right today! I also really hope that I can get it right and enter this card correctly this time!!! as I've messed up with two cards on the run and entered too many challenges! The worrying thing is that I did read the rules!!! just my brain didn't absorb them!!! must be tired or the heat! glad it's gone a bit cooler - I can't take it now I'm an old woman!! :-))

Oh I nearly forgot! Remember the 'Iced Buns' from my last post. Suddenly remembered this really weird story in the newspaper back in February!! This might make you smile :-)  Iced Bun

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

Stampin' For the Weekend - Challenge 17 - 'What a Cutie' (ends 6th October 2011)  

Our Creative Corner - 'Happy *World* Card Making Day!' Country: Hawaii!!! (ends 7th October 2011)

Paper Sundaes - Challenge 89 - 'Lots of Layers' (ends 8th October 2011)  

The Paperlane Challenge - 'Glitz & Sparkle' (ends 28th October 2011) 

Take care!

Hope you all have a good week!

Love n Hugs

Sue xxx

George with Lantern

Thought I would make a male Christmas Card using 'George with Lantern' from Molly Blooms Christmas 2010 Collection. He is SO adorable!

I have used the 'Sketch by Debbie' for this month's Bunny Zoe's Craft Challenge. My sentiment is different shape though and had to shift it to right slightly cos it didn't look good! so not sure if it will still count? :-(

The gorgeous design paper is from Basic Grey 'Jovial' Pad. Gold pearls are from Bunny Zoe's. I know they look brown in photo but they really are gold!! Sentiment is from Pink Petticoat Tiny Christmas Treasures.  Nearly forgot - I have dusted image and sentiment with 'Wild Honey' Tim Holtz Distress Ink.

Colouring:

Skin: Copics E00, E02

Greens: Copics G82, G85

Red: Copics R42, R49

Blue: Promarkers: Pastel Blue, Cornflower

Glossy Accents on Lamp
Fur Trim: Kars Glitter and White Flock

The card is quite sparkly in real life but camera hasn't really picked it up, particularly on the fur trim on his hat. I've also gone round all the green card with Sakura Lime Green Glitter Pen to make it more Christmassy. I tried adding other embellishments but I didn't think it looked good, so resisted!! :-)) 

Hope you are all having a great weekend.  I am having a lazy couple of days.  Reading my book and watching TV - Oh and eating !!! and so putting on more weight!! The Great British Bake Off has a lot to answer for.  After last week's show I had craving for Croissants and Ice Buns. I bought some on Friday. I won't say where from but it was a well known Supermarket in The North of England!! ;-))  The Croissants were lovely!! but the Ice Buns !!! They were like Bricks!!! I kid you not ... If I were to throw them at someone, they would have killed them!! Lethal Weapons! It's a wonder another filling or tooth didn't come out!! Will get some ice buns from my local bakery next week!! they are much, much nicer!!

Ah well, enough waffle. Back to my card ....

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

Paper Sundaes - Challenge 88 - 'Anything Goes' (ends 1st October 2011) 

Oldie but a Goodie - Challenge 27  - 'One for The Boys' (ends 3rd October 2011)  

Simon Says - 'Anything Goes' (ends 4th October 2011) 

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Challenge 16 - 'Sketch by Debbie' (ends 9th October 2011)
The Paperlane Challenge - 'Glitz & Sparkle' (ends 28th October 2011)

Thanks for visiting

Hope you all have a nice Sunday!

Love n Hugs

Sue xx

Blog Candy Winner!!!!

Time to announce the Winner of my Blog Candy!  

I asked the Randomizer at www.psychicscience.org to choose a Winner  at 11.30pm precisely!!! and 

have copied and pasted the Result.....

                                                               

 and the Winner is ......

5. Teresa

Randomized list generated Sep 30 2011 at 23:30:0 by www.psychicscience.org  

Free educational resources for parapsychology, psychical research & mind magic.

That's you Teresa!!!!

Big Congratulations Hun!!! If you email me your addy I will pop it in the post for you!! My email address is on my profile.

A big Thank you to everyone who entered and I have got up to 100 Followers !!!! Wow! That is really awesome! Thank you all so much!!  I think to celebrate I will have to do another Candy Giveaway real soon. 

Take Care! 

Hope you are all having a great Weekend!

Hugs Sue xx