Use it Up #4 - Sugar and Spice Chef

I just wanted to share the next card in my 'Use it Up' series.  Before I had my back surgery I made a goal for myself to use up the bits in my scraps box.  After making 4 cards already, I don't think this is going to happen anytime soon, but I can at least say that more is coming out of it than going in!

Here is the card...

You might recognize this little chef from the Simply B Stamps range.  She is colored in flex markers as is my usual.  The photo doesn't show it well, but the backing paper or background layer is a light green marble.  This didn't come out of my scraps box, but it did come from a pack of Glitter Girls paper that I have had over a year.  I used some smaller scraps to make the woven panel and some larger scraps for the yellow matted polka dot layer panels.

Lastly, the sentiment came from the Crafter's Companion 'Little Treasures' embellishment set, which I have also had for over a year.

I am quite pleased with the way it turned out.  I find it a fun challenge to look at the scraps and try to come up with ways to use them.   It gives me the excuse to try combinations and layouts that I might not otherwise.

Anyway, I shall leave it here for now.  I hope you like the card.  by the way, don't forget to check out the current challenges at Just Inspirational Challenges and Crafty Boots Challenges.  It is so lovely to see what you all come up with.

Take care and I hope you can come back to visit soon.
xx Denise

Just Inspirational Challenges - Crosseyed Butterfly

Oh dear, I have just now realised, that although I got my design team card in to be posted in the challenge blog, I completely forgot to do a post in my own blog for the challenge and my card.  Actually, I thought I had done one, and distinctly remembered doing links to the sponsor etc., but maybe I dreamt that.  Anyway, better late than never.....

This week the challenge at Just Inspirational Challenges is being sponsored by Squigglefly.

Check them out for a wide range of digital stamps by a variety of wonderful artists.  I was happy to find one of my favorite artists, Cheryl Alger, among them.

I used the adorable Crosseyed Butterfly image and colored it with Flex Markers.  The card layout was done in Craft Artist Professional.  I added some punched butterflies and thought that was all it needed. 

The inspirational photo for this challenge is....

You can probably see that I chose to use the colors, but you can take whatever elements you like to draw inspiration for your project!  There is plenty more inspiration from the rest of the design team over on the main blog as well.  Do pop over to check them out, and of course to link up your own projects. 

Right, well that's my 20 minutes done, so must take a break from the computer.

Take care and thank you so much for looking. 

xx Denise

Just Because

Well, I seem to be on a roll with making cards thanks to Craft Artist Professional.  It is so much fun to work with and it is quick and easy to design what I hope are lovely cards.

This card mainly uses elements from the Melon School Digikit.  I love the color scheme - green and pink look so nice together!

Anyway, here is my card:

I inserted this adorable Simply B Stamps digi image into the project, and added her 'painting' using the CAP software as well.  The rest of the digi image is colored with flex markers.   

Well, I must keep this short, so I will say goodbye for now.

Thank you so much for looking and I do hope you like my project.  Please visit again soon!

Take care,
xx Denise

It 'May' be an A-May-Zing Christmas

I thought I would write a quick blog post to showcase a card I made using Craft Artist Professional and one of the images from Nigel May's Cool Yule CD Rom.  I just got it in the post today and am in LOVE!!!

Here is the card front.

 and here is the inside of the card...

I am really addicted to digital crafting now.  I will probably add some embellishments to the card, but as it is a digital file, I can print it over and over and add a variety of embellishments to them to make them all unique.  The possibilities are literally endless.  Can you tell I am excited!!  The only down side is that I have to do my creating in 20 minutes blocks because of my back surgery.  Dr's orders and all that..lol.

Anyway, so I don't go over my 20 minutes, and since I want to post this in a few Facebook groups I shall make this short and sweet.

Thanks for stopping by and I would love to know what you think of my creation!

Take care and I hope you visit again soon,
xx Denise

Anything You Can Do - Crafty Boots Sport Challenge

AKA - Use it Up Challenge  #3

Good Monday Morning everyone out there in crafty blog land.  A fortnight has passed since the last challenge over at Crafty Boots Challenges so it is time for another one!  The theme this time was chosen by our lovely DT member Zoe, and she wants to see your sports themed projects.   There is lots of inspiration over on the main blog from the other design team members, but I hope you also get some inspiration from mine.

I decided to use this great digi from Simply B Stamps.  I am addicted to her images and thought this one would fit in perfectly!  She is colored with Flex Markers.  All the papers used on the project were from my 'cut offs' box so this card also makes #3 in my personal 'Use it Up' Challenge!

The sentiment and the green dots came from the Crafter's Companion 'Life's Little Treasures' embellishment set.  I love the sentiment, and thought it went well with the sport theme.... you know how boys always think they are better at sports..lol!

Anyway, please visit the main challenge blog to link up your own creations and to check out the work from the rest of the design team.  If you have time, also pop over to the Crafty Boots Shop to check out all the great stuff they have, including digital stamps and papers!  The shop sells my own Daffy's Digis - only at Crafty Boots, as well as digis by our talented Zoe - aka- Crafty Gashead Digital Designs.  In fact, her new Sporty Boots Digi is making her debut in this challenge on the main blog.

Thank you so much for looking, and if the mood strikes you I would love to know what you think of my creation. 

Take care and I do hope you visit again soon.

xx Denise

Some Odd Girl - Thanks a Whole Bunch

This is going to be a very sweet and simple post as I am only allowed to sit up 20 minutes at a time while recovering from my back surgery - which went reasonably well luckily.  Two weeks out and I am feeling much better, but I still have a long way to go.

I wanted to make a Thank You Card for the lovely Nurses at Sarum Road BMI Hospital in Winchester who took phenomenal care of me before and after my surgery.  I thought I would go ahead and do it now after seeing the current sketch challenge at Emma's Cards UK.  Also, I have just started doing a bit more than drawing digi stamps with Serif Craft Artist Pro, so I thought this card would be a good chance to have a quick play with some of the digi kits.

Anyway, without further ado, here is the card.....

I used CAP for pretty much the entire card other than the paper flower and the 'dew drop' embellishments.  The image is from Some Odd Girl, and she is colored with Flex Markers.  I was brave and printed her uncolored directly on the designed card, so good thing I didn't mess up.

Although I am just finding my way around the software, I certainly can see the potential for hours and hours of crafty fun with Craft Artist Professional.  I will just have to be patient and try not to forget about the Dr's orders to only sit for a max of 20 minutes while I am playing!

As you might have guessed, I would like to enter this card in the current Sketch Challenge at Emmas Cards UK.

I hope the nurses like it.  I will be giving it to them when I next see the doctor.  Hopefully I will be up to doing a little baking by that time so the card can be accompanied by some cupcakes.  I really am so thankful and impressed with their hard work and dedication.  I definitely would not want to trade with them.

Ok, well my 20 minutes is just about up, so I shall post this and link up to the challenge at Emmas cards.  I hope you like the card, and would love your comments.

Thanks for looking, and I would love it if you could come back soon.

Take care today and always,
Denise xx

Simply Betty - Don't Talk to Me

Just Inspirational Challenge Week 33 - Sponsored by Simply B Stamps









I am writing this post way ahead of time.  I am having back surgery in two weeks, and am not sure what kind of shape I will be in by the time this post publishes, but I wanted to participate in the challenge because I absolutely LOVE Simply B Stamps and I LOVE purple.

Here is the Inspirational Photo...

 and here is my card:

Obviously the stamp is a Simply B digi called Morning Betty... you can get her here, but she is a limited release so be quick if you like her (hopefully she is still available when this publishes..sorry if she isn't!)

I colored her with Flex Markers.  The image layer and backing layer is cut out with a Grand Nesties die.  I used a patterened papper that I have had in my stash for ages.  I made the sentiment using doCrafts Digital Designer, Boofle collection.  A bit of blue ribbon seemed to be a nice touch, so I decided on the two strips.

I hope you like the card.  I loved coloring the image...I think the Betty's especially are Fab (although all of the images from Simply Betty are great).

Please pop over to the main Just Inspirational Challenges blog to see what the rest of the design team have come up with and to link up your creations.

Thank you as always for taking the time to visit my blog.  Stay as long as you like, and feel free to come back soon!

Take care and happy crafting!
xx Denise

Organza Tizzy Dreams

Happy Monday everyone.  I am writing this post way ahead of time, because by the time this challenge goes live, I will hopefully be recovering nicely from my back surgery! 

For this fortnight, Crafty Boots Challenges would like to see your projects using MATERIAL.

Here is mine...

Side view for beter view of candi and insert

The digital image is from the Tumble Ted and Tizzy CD, available at Cupcake Crafting.  I colored her using Flex Markers and used a white detail pen to accent her pearls. I used a lovely floral pattern paper, matted with dark purple paper and put them on an 'On the Edge' Card blank from Crafty Boots..  I can't remember where I got the paper floral from, so apologies for the missing 'shout out'.  I wrapped some organza around the square card layers, leaving it loose so I could bunch it up and tie it with a purple organza bow.

I used the same floral patterned paper on the card insert with a square of white paper in the middle, matted with purple, for the sender to write on. 

I thought it needed a little something more, so I added some white and pale blue card candi, which I also got from the Crafty Boots Shop.

I seem to be going through a purple phase, which is odd because my favorite color is green!  Anyway.  I hope you like the card and I hope you will pop over to the Crafty Boots Challenges blog to check out the creations from the rest of the design team and link up your entries!  I can't wait to see what you all come up with!


I would also like to enter this card into the challenge at: Forever Friends Fortnightly Challenge - Anything Goes & Take care and I hope you can visit again soon.

xx Denise
 

Elephant Love - Use it Up #2

Folks....I'm on a roll..lol.  Well, maybe two doesn't make a roll, but it is a good start.  Here is card #2 for my personal 'Use it Up' challenge.

The image is from Cuddly Buddly and was in the stack of digi's that were printed ages ago.  My friend Ines did the coloring again.  She visits often, and loves to color, so I have loads of her colored images that still need to be carded up - so expect to see her name in these posts often!  She loves working with pro markers, and loves to color, but she doesn't feel very confident with the actual card making.  Saying that, she has made us some beautiful cards, so hopefully she will take the plunge and start up her own card blog at some point.  We shall see!

Anyway, all the papers are from my scrap box.  The two cards I have made have not even made a dent in it, but it is still progress!

I hope you like the card.  I may do another this afternoon if I am feeling up to it, but for now have to rest my back.  Maybe after tomorrow's surgery I will be able to build up more crafting stamina!  Fingers crossed.

Thank you again for visiting, and I do love reading your comments.  I will of course share any regarding Ines's coloring with her, so feel free to send her a little love as well.

Take care and I hope you can come back soon.

xx Denise

Distressed Butterfly - Use it Up #1

Alright!  I am off to a good start (although I guess it is cheating a little to have started before the surgery).  This is the first card I have made using papers / materials from my scrap box.

The butterfly is from one of the Polka Doodles CD Roms, and technically that is also something to 'use up' as it is from a stack of digis I printed off and just hadn't got to coloring yet.  In fact, I still didn't get to coloring it.  My friend Ines did the coloring of this butterfly - using pro markers of course!

I took bits from my scraps box and roughed them up with a bit of Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.  The embossed swirl paper was also from my scraps box.  I used that for the top 'banner' and for the small punched butterflies.  It was from a piece of card that I was goofing around with when I first started paper crafting and was showing a friend of mine my new crafting goodies (like my Cuttlebug, Woodware paper trimmer and gold sparkle spray).  Goes to show I really am a pack rat!

This card is a bit differently styled compared to my 'normal' stuff, but as I am feeling torn between distressed and hopeful with my upcoming surgery, I guess this card is the perfect representation of that!  In any event...I hope you like it.

Thanks for visiting...and I hope you can come back soon.

xx Denise

My Own 'Use it Up' Challenge

Greetings fellow crafty folks.  I doubt I am alone in this, so I thought I would share it.  Recently I had to move all of my stash so I could get broadband installed so I wanted to organize it properly before putting it all back.  One of the boxes is my 'cut offs' or 'scraps' box and looking at it, there is really no good way to organize it - so my choices are to bin it (yeah right) or use it up. 

I was surprised just how much is in the box - it definitely adds up quickly.

Anyway, as many of you know, I am having back surgery on Wednesday (6th of June)  - getting my L5S1 vertebrae fused.  I will be convalescing for at least 6 weeks, so I decided to set myself a challenge so I don't go stir crazy or revert to a depressed lump on the couch with no purpose.

So....within the next 6-8 weeks, I am going to try to utilise everything in this box on projects.  I am not sure if I can do it, but I am sure gonna try.  I will keep you all posted with my progress and of course share my projects. 

Wish me luck!!

xx Denise

This Better Work...

aka NetworkedBlogs Facebook Saga.

Hello lovlies!  After 4 days of fighting with NetworkedBlogs, Blogger and Feedburner, I think I have finally resolved the issues I have been having since UK blog addresses changed to blogger.co.uk (from blogger.com)

If you have no idea what I am on about, don't worry.  What it does mean is that people following my blog via NetworkedBlogs are no longer following.  I thought I would do a test post not only to make sure everything is working properly, but also so I could try to get some of my facebook followers back (and maybe get some new ones as well!)

To entice you to follow, I am including photos of my crafty creations as well as some pics of my menagerie of furry children.  Enjoy!

"e-card" designed in doCrafts Digital Designer

Meet the Menagerie

And now to introduce them all...

Lily and Muschy are the two 'white' kitties -  Muschy is the bigger one, and his proper name is Paddington.  He is such a floppy lovey doll of a boy that Muschy suits him better!. Lily is the one with the striped legs.  She thinks she is one of the dogs much of the time and likes to chat and nag for lovin' - especially when we are trying to do something else.  She is very demanding and nearly always gets her way..lol.

Peppy (proper name Pepper -also answers to Sham Sham, Fatty Fat Fat & Schmearshin) is the brown/black/ginger/white kitty.  Peppy is probably the lowest maintenance of them all, though she has a very cheeky side and has been known to lull you into petting her by rolling and purring and then snatching your hand and having a soft nibble.

The dogs are Willow and Gracie.  Gracie is the white dog and is a Bichon Frise (not a poodle).  She has a high maintenance 'coat' that is supposed to be combed or brushed every day, but she hates to be combed and / or brushed.  This is why she often looks a bit disheveled!  Gracie is very sweet natured, but she also has a cheeky side and can be relentless when she wants you to play with her!  Willow is the salt and pepper dog and is a miniature schnauzer.  She is very shy with most people, but once you get to know her she is so very sweet.  She loves to give kisses and does an incredible impression of a wookie when she is playing.

Well, I hope you are now convinced it is worth a click or two to follow my blog.  I hope to bring you lots of inspirational creations and take you along with me on my crafting trials and tribulations!

Thanks for visiting and for reading.  Please feel free to come back soon.

Take care and have a lovely day!
xx Denise