Sunday, January 29, 2012

Valentine / Anniversary and or Love with The Crafty Pad

Good evening crafty friends, I hope you have all had a great crafty weekend.

It is Sunday again so that brings me to today's new challenge at

With Valentines day right around the corner what perfect timing for us all to make a start on those cards with this weeks challenge of ...
#155 -Valentine / Anniversary or Love with a touch of RED

Another new image in the The Crafty Pad Designs store this new year are these adorable Love Birds!  And I had a play with these little darlings using my Tombow Markers. 

I love this black and white rose DP and it works perfectly with the red and black combo.  The key is a die cut that I had play with with some embossing powder, the jury is still out on liking the finish or not, it is growing on me though and it is a nice change to step outside of what I would usually do and use.

This week we are being sponsored by the lovely Crafty Ribbons
Who has kindly offered the prize below to one lucky winner!
Don't those ribbons just look lushalicious!

 For your chance of winning this magnificent prize, you have to join us this week and play along by adding your creation to the Mr Linky and leaving us a link back on your blog post. 

The love is really showing in the air this week over at The Crafty Pad Challenge Blog  so please do drop by and see the amazing works of all the DT, and come and play along with us this week!

Thank you for stopping by today and I hope to see you in this weeks challenge! 




Challenges this creation is entering with the help of the Feline Playful Girls:

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Craft the moment

Ugh it is nearly 40 degrees here in Perth today, it is hot and it is dry!
We spent the morning at the beach, it was perfect, the water cool and refreshing and so salty to the point it stung your eyes.   That kind of weather where it is just to hot to do anything despite want ever urge you have to craft.  Mix that with a dose of home sickness and missing my friends greatly of late and understandably my miserable mood & mojo just wanted to sit and troll the www and my blogroll.

That was until I saw the Day 333 At This Moment challenge over at 365 Cards.
Has it raised an eyebrow for you too? 

So here is the deal ... As you're reading this post, think about where are you at this very moment, whether it's the exact place or an activity you did today, that should be the thing that inspires your card.   

For me I am home sick and feeling blue missing my friends back home :'(  Hmm I can craft to that! I can make a card for a friend back home that I am missing immensely!   Blue will be my focus as I am feeling 'blue', but what should I make?

Welcome Day 332 Itsy Bitsy at 365 Cards - Make a teeny tiny card - less than 3" by 3" - otherwise the dimensions are up to you. Hmm ... now that doesn't just sound interesting, that sounds challenging! (specially for me as I love my 6" by 6" cards with all their details.)

 That was all I needed, I was off on a mission and I knew exactly where I was heading and what I wanted.  I wanted a sweet sentiment as focus, blue with white (so out of character for me), a flower(s), some embossing, ribbon and lace (a must have), bling, pearls and swirls and some how I wanted to get layers on a 3 by 3!

So .... 
How do you think I went???
Yep, it is 3" x 3", with 3 layers, lots of embellishments and loads of texture and dimension!
And was so much fun to make!
Side view to show some of the dimension to this little baby.




To tell truth, I was gobsmacked when I finished this.  Not only for it's tiny winy size and it's ability to capture my home sickness mood, but because it turned out so beautiful and was so much more than I ever expected or dreamed it could be.  I can not wait to get this in the mail back home to a very dear friend.  It has no personal message inside, and I did dwell on this for a while, but I really do not think it needs it as it says everything already.   I don't need to pop my name on it as the recipient will know who it is from and in worse case, my name is on the back of the envelope :))

The sentiment is a freebie from Gingers House that I have edited to spread over 3 parts of the card.  The words are so true and touching and perfectly capture my mood of the blues for friends back home.  

I hope you like what you see and thanks for dropping in on me.
Have a great weekend!
   

Challenges this creation is entering with the help of the Feline Playful Girls:
ATCs & Cards With Attitude - #5 Anything goes W2/2Fri E1/-
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge -  #5 Thinking of you missing you W1/2Fri E1/3
Pattie's Creations Design Challenge - #36 Embossing W1/2 Fri E1/2
Stamp Man - Embellish It W1/2Fri E1/1Card
Stamping For The Weekend - #2 Embossing  W1/2Fri E1/1
Stampin With The Dragon - #2 Anything goes W2/2 Fri E2/-
Totally Paper Crafts - Pearls and Lace Fri E1/-
Winter Wonderland - Pearls & Swirls Fri E1/3
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - #92 Anything Goes E1/-
Paper Crafting Journey - #1 Floral 2/2Thurs E1/-
PaperPlay Challenges - 12/2 Lovely Lace Thurs Thurs E1/2
Shelly's Images - Text me (text as focus) Thurs E1/-
Crafting For All Seasons - #19 Blue & White W1/2 Wed E1/-
Flutterby Wednesday's - #187 Embossing Wed E1/1
The Paper Shelter - Pearls and Swirls Wed E2/3
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes Wed  E1/-
Whimsy Stamps Challenge - #23 Pearls or Bling Wed E2/3
Creative Craft Challenge - The color blue W2/2 Tue E1/3
Deep Ocean Challenge Blog - #17 Sparkle Tues 
Everybody Art - #175 Swirls Tues E2/-
The Stamping Boutique - #24 Die Cuts Tue E2/-
Paper Makeup Stamps - #20 Winter Blues  Mon
Pile It On - #4 Lace Sun E2/-
Sentimental Sundays - #86 Die Cuts Sun E1/3
Saturday Challenge - Ribbon(s) Sat E
Crazy 4 Challenges - C4C121 Layer it on, layers and lots of embellishments Sat

For such a small card it is amazing to fit it into so many challenges! 
Thanks again Feline Playful Girls!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Blooming Marvelous GDT with Moving Along With The Times

Good morning friends! 

Well I think it is just Bloomin Marvelous today isn't it? 
Well I would be thinking that because I have been very lucky to be joining the gorgeous girls at 


This week the girls have a delicious challenge that I know there is 
NO EXCUSE for not playing along!

Challenge #133 Blooming Marvelous!
(Show some flowers/ have flowers on your creation)
Too Easy! 

I had so much fun playing along to this challenge and even managed to step greatly out of my comfort zone into colors of rich bright greens and yelllow(s), that generally I would never go near!  I also pulled all this together from my scrap buckets!  






The green and yellow ladybug fabric piece along the bottom started this card off and the rest just followed.  I don't know why but I did have a moment where I wanted (and I was having) the ladybug fabric, then the lace, then the neon green ribbon and then the thin yellow ribbon, my mind would just not change on this and so while putting it all together I was thinking this is way way to much, it finished so nicely that I am glad I let my creative mind go with it after all.

The main ribbon in this is a very real fluro green, like the safety jackets that the road work crews all wear, sadly my camera has not done the color justice :(  The fabric is embroidered and I salvaged it from Nana's crafting box that was given to me, and blinged up the ladybug spots with some pearls and jewels. The sunflower spray is left over from another project and the 3 green roses were in the bottom of my ribbon box :$

This week there is a fabulous prize up for grabs! From 

For more details check out the 
Thank you for stopping by today and I hope to see you in this weeks challenge! 


Challenges this creation is entering with the help of the Feline Playful Girls:
Pile It On - #4 Lace Sun E1/- 
Paper Crafting Journey - #1 Floral  2Thurs E1/-
My Time To Craft - #171 Your Fav embellishment (lace and flowers) 2TuesE1/
Cardmadfairy's Digi Days - #25 Ribbons & Bows FRI E1/1
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT - #52 Bows Tues E1/1
Hotshot Craft Blog - #3 Flowers 
Make It Monday - #73 Anything goes Mon E1/-
Clearly I Stamp - #44 Pastels  Fri E1/1
 Gingersnap Creations - GC136 Glorious green Monthly
Little Darlings Challenges - Polka dots W1/2 Wed E1/-
My Mum's Craft Shop - #41 Flowers Wed E1/3
The Paper Shelter - Pearls & Swirls - Wed E1/3
Truly Scrumptious - Something Forgotten (the fabric) W2/2 Wed E1/-
Whimsy Stamps Challenge - #23 Pearls or Bling -Wed
Deep Ocean Challenge - #17 Sparkling and or glitter W2/2Tues  E1/-
Everybody Art - #177 Swirls Tues E1/-
The Stamping Boutique - #24 Die Cuts  -Tues E1/-
Hooked On Craft - #16 Something Bright  DT
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Sunday, January 22, 2012

Something for the Boys at The Crafty Pad

Good evening crafty friends, I hope you have all had a great crafty weekend.

Today brings me to this weeks challenge with ...  

and this weeks we are getting in touch with our masculine side with ...
#154 - Something for the Boys

Again this week I am using one of the new releases from The Crafty Pad Designs called 'Bowling - It's a strike' that is available in either a colored or un-colored version. 


 

 
I could not resist mixing some stripes and spots with stars and circles on this card.  Today they all just seemed to click into place and go with each other. The spots I have embossed and then highlighted with some distressing ink, the bowling ball embellishments I made from some scrap brown glitter card-stock that I punched and then used my eyelet tool to add the finger holes for the balls.  The stars on the top right I have added some metal wire to and laced with a knot at the top and the admit one tickets are from some Kaiser Papers that I had left over in my stash (I think the up up and away series range). 
This week we are being sponsored by the lovely 
Who has kindly offered a prize of  £10 to spend in her shop!

 For your chance of winning this magnificent prize, you have to join us this week and play along by adding your creation to the Mr Linky and leaving us a link back on your blog post.  Yep, It is that simple and easy! 


The Design Team have done a striking job this week so please do drop The Crafty Pad Challenge Blog and share some love and inspiration with the girls.  We would to see you and your creations!

Thank you for stopping by today and I hope to see you in this weeks challenge! 




Challenges this creation is entering with the help of the Feline Playful Girls:
Stamping with the Dragon - #2 Anything Goes  FRI E1/-
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - #138 Use Numbers  THUR E1/5
Cards for Men - #2 Boys and their toys  MON E1/
DYSU Challenge Blog - #55 Pattered Paper THUR E1/
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge - Anything Goes
Pixie Dust Studio - Going Dotty
Celebrate the Occasion - Any Occasion with Polka Dota

Friday, January 20, 2012

Uncle Ted's Birthday Card

Afternoon folks!  Hope you are ready for a fabulous weekend!

I have a quick post to share with you of what I got up to in the craft room this morning.  I am busily making a start on some of the birthday cards that are coming up in the next month.  January and February are big birthday months for us.  This one is for a very special Uncle Ted aka Ben's mums new partner or if you're asking Little Miss Emilie (her very elder boyfriend, as she has him wrapped round her little finger) lol

The gorgeous image is from The Stamping Boutique and I have colored it today with my watercolor pencils and written Ted's name on the tag to personalize it.  All the embellishments on this on are handmade / cut and punched and I love the wire twirly's I added to the stars as they really feel and look like shooting stars.  I always seem to struggle with cards for guys but this one fell together easily.  And yes, it had bling on it even though it is for a guy, but I think it goes well.




I hope you like what you see and thanks for dropping in on me.
Have a great weekend!
   

Challenges this creation is entering with the help of the Feline Playful Girls:
Shelly's Images - Anything goes Thurs  E2/-
Pixie Dust Studio -  We're going Dotty Thur E1/-
City Crafter Challenge Blog - #92 Pretty inside and out TUE E1/-
Celebrate the Occasion - Any occasion must use poka dots TUE E1/1
Paperminutes - #200 Anything goes  Tue E1/-
Party Time Tuesdays - #51 Happy Birthday Tue E1/3
Tuesday Throwdown - #81 Neutral Colors 
Crafty Cardmakers - #59 No Floral Embellishments  Mon E2/-
The Crazy Challenge - Tic Tac Toe (Ribbon, Image and gems) Mon  E1/2
2 Sisters - Use Metal Sat E1/-
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What's New Pussy Cat With Craft Ann's Challenge !

Fabulous Friday to you all! 

What better way to kick start the weekend by joining us in this fortnights 
Crafty Ann's Challenge of 
#57 - What's New Pussycat!
This can be some new crafty stash you got for Christmas or even a new technique you have learned! The options are endless and I am sure you can all play along with us!

Still new for me is some new bling that I am having so much fun playing with, all things pink with a new pink stamp pad, ribbon and some oh la la lace and just prior to Christmas I finally got my very belated Birthday pressy .... My ! (oh this toy has been sooo much fun to play with!) 



This week I have been playing with my watercolor pencils and have used the very gorgeous Calla Liles 2 from Crafty Ann's Digi Shop and have layered and paper toiled the image up to really make the lilies a focal point of the card.  I have then placed them on a 3 layer frame that I cut with the Cameo and I have embossed the 3 layers to give them a sparkle and a shine with gold, silver and then bronze embossing powder.  I have given all the edges a distress with a splash of pink ink that match my new pinky apricot ribbon and my new lace is just perfect for 'blinging' up with some jewels.  The butterfly I stamped onto the card and have layered up as well to give the impression of fluttering flying wings and his swirly tail is finished with some pearls. 


By playing along with us this week you will be in the running to win  
2 digi images, 1 Backing paper collection and 1 pre-coloured sheet of your choice from the gorgeous Crafty Ann's!   

There is some fabby new stuff just added to the Crafty Ann's Digi Shop that includes two new gorgeous scrapbook kits; Sweet Sage Kit that is very vintage with some lovely embellishments and the Traditional Scrapbook Kit that will go perfectly with the recent Christmas pics I am sure you all snapped over the holidays. 
Here is a sneak peak for you, but do pop by the shop to check out all the juicy details!
   

Thanks for dropping by to see me this week and I wish you all a crafty weekend!
   

Challenges this creation is entering with the help of the Feline Playful Girls:
Crop Stop - #54 A bit Old You Said ? Thurs E1/3
Shelly's Images - Anything goes Thurs  E1/-
Cooking it up with Katie - #87 Pink, pearls and Posies Wed E1/1
Creative Bellie - #135 Fancy Frames  Wed E1/-
My Mums Craft Shop - #40 Fave Color Combo (pink and brown) Wed E1/3
Deep Ocean Challenge - Sparkling and or Glitter Tue E1/-
Creative Inspirations Paint - Birthdays  Sun E1/1  ***EDIT*** Made Top 3
Sentimental Sundays -  Ribbon Sun E1/-
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - #122Something New Sun E1/-
Catch The Bug - Birthday Challenge  Sat E1/-

Sunday, January 15, 2012

New Year Sparkle with The Crafty Pad!

Good evening crafty friends, I hope you have all had a great weekend.

Today  I am happy to announce that  
is making the return from the Christmas break, and are now back every Sunday with challenges.  I hope you can all join us and play along as we would love to see you!

We thought we would kick our first challenge of the New Year with a bang with some
#153 - NEW YEAR SPARKLE!
(Glitter, gems anything dazzling and shiny)

We all know girls love their shiny things, diamonds and bling, so I am sure you will all find this challenge easy peasy!

Mrs Clause was ever so nice to me and stuffed my stocking full of new bling, flowers and assortments and I just could not help myself with getting the bling and glitter on while playing with the gorgeous CraftyPad new release ‘Lulu Birthday cake image’.  (There is colored and uncolored images available too!)





 
Now the new home is all settled in it has been great to get back in the craft-room and play!  I paper pierced Lulu today, kept with my traditional style of distressed and had a great time making some handmade flowers that I could not resist sprucing up with a touch of glitter flecks, kindy glitz and of course ... some BLING!

This week we are being sponsored by the lovely 
Who has kindly offered a prize of  £10 to spend in her online shop

 For your chance of winning this magnificent prize, you have to join us this week and play along by adding your creation to the Mr Linky and leaving us a link back on your blog post.  Yep, It is that simple and easy! 


If you need a little inspiration do pop by The Crafty Pad Challenge Blog and check out the amazing works from all the DT (they have done an impressive job this week) and if you’re up for some shopping do checkout The Crafty Pad Digi Shop and have a peak at the New Year releases (that are on sale at the moment as well *bargin*).  I am sure there will be something to your liking!

Thank you for stopping by today and I hope to see you in this weeks challenge! 




Challenges this creation is entering with the help of the Feline Playful Girls:
Lexi's Creations - #56- Anything Goes *Mon1/2w 1/-
The Cute Pie Challenge Blog - #9 Ribbons & Lace  *Mon1/2w 1/-
There She Goes Clear Stamps - TSG138 Paper Piecing  *Mon 1/-
Celebrate The Occasion -#45 Child's Birthday  *Tue E1/1
Everybody Art - #175 Shabby -*Tue 1/-
Crafty Creations Challenges - #152 Something New - (Bling) *Wed 1/-
Whimsy Stamps Challenge - #21 Happy Birthday  *Wed  2/3
DRS Designs Rubber Stamps -  Paper Piecing  *Tue 1/1
Some Odd Girl - Bling it up *Thur 1/
Coffee Chocolate & Cards - Glitter  *Fri 1/2w 1/3
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