Isabella's Sketch Book - Blog Hop & and Anything Goes Challenge

Hi and welcome to our bi-monthly blog hop at Isabella's Challenges! Make sure you visit all the blogs and leave a comment because there is going to be an Isabella's image of your choice given away in every single blog!! The hop remains open until Friday, July 3rd (included).

My blog happens to be a first in the hop so not to worry, you haven't missed anything yet!! This week's challenge is ANYTHING GOES!

Isabella has let us to use an image that will not be available in her shop before next week.




I did the colouring with my trusty Copics and Sakura pens. I printed out 3 copies of the image and mounted some parts with glue gel to add dimension and depth.




Patterned papers are from SEI, all the buttons and ribbon from my stash. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Craft.




COPICS:
basket: E49/47/57/35/43/41
blue bcgr.: B34/41/0000, o
Purples: RV95/93/91/0000, 09, V15
leaves: G29, G16,YG17, YG13, YG00
lemons: Y08/06/04/02/00/0000

Your next stop is Cec and her wonderful creation - you're up for treat!

I would like to also enter the following challenges:
Card Patterns - Sketch
Crafty Catz - Digital
Mark's Finest Papers - 3+ flowers

Thanks for looking and happy crafting!
Hugs

Whimsy Stamps Digi Sneak Peek - If You Need To Soften A Heart...

...then you'll have to wait until Thursday July 1st. Because that's when this digital heart breaker (along with other groovy images) hits the shop at Whimsy Stamps:

I dare you to say you could possibly say "no" to that face!!

Excuse my less-than perfect colouring on that lil' cutie, as I've said - have not felt up to par. You can find Copic list further down.

The sentiment is from a set of digital sentiments by Ann Vento designed to match the image. Those will too be available on Thursday.

I used yummy MME papers, lace and ribbon from my stash, some pearly Dew Drops, EK Success leaf punch, flowers from American Crafts and Ebay, stamens from Wild Orchid Crafts and pearly hearts from stash. Phew.

I think I MIGHT have gone slightly overboard with embellishing here. lol

Copics:
Fur:W7/5/3/1/00, 0, E02
Eyes, leaves: G05, G29, YG13
Pot:E17/97/99/08/35/21
soil:
E29/37/15/33//00, W7
flower:R46/24/43/30, Y18, YR14/23
Shadowing: Derwent Inktense pencils with Sansador

I would love to enter following challenges:
Friday Sketchers - sketch
The Pocket Full Of Posies - One For The Girls
Practical Scrappers - Flowers
Bunny Zoe's Craft - Nice 'n Girly
I did it Creations - 3D
ABC Challenge - Xtra Dimension
Corrosive Challenges - Flowers
Your Next Stamp - Patterned Ribbon
Secret Crafter - Strawberries and Cream
Crafty Catz - Digital
Cupcake Craft - Strawberries and Cream

Thanks for looking and happy crafting
Hugs

Sentimental Sundays - Encouragement card

I've been feelin' rotten this week. On antibiotics from throat infection, additional ear ache, unmentionable yeasty visitors etc. Somehow I've managed to keep things moving on blog/DT work but I think it's finally catching up with me.

So when it was time to make the card for Sentimental Sundays Challenge, I just could not face any complicated colouring. Had a rummage through my old stamp folders and found those cute but very simple to colour stamps from Doodle Factory:

Here you go, clueless dragon and chubby knight. Hope it's just what you needed to make your Sunday complete!

I ran a piece of gold mirror card through with embossing folder, dabbed it randomly with Versamark pad and sprinkled with black sparkly embossing powder. Heat gun and voilà - grungy ornate background. The rest of papers are from DCWV Naturals pad.

The sentiment is a rub on from don't-remember-who-from and they're bloody lucky I don't. Rotten quality. Border punch EK Success. The only embellies are some tiny gold brads and couple of vintage buttons. Just snipped the backs off and stuck them on with the strongest glue I have (that stuff, I bloody swear by it!).

Copic colours:
C8/7/5/3/1/00, YR23, Y17, YR24, Y32, YR31, Y28, Y18, BG99, YG67, G85, YG17, YG13

I'd like to enter following challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown - Dry embossing
Allsorts - embossing
Crafty Creations - Shine
Pixie Dust Studio - two or more images
Creative Craft - Stamp it up
Freshly Brewed Designs - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking and happy crafting!
Hugs

Phindy Challenge - 3D

Hey, it's Phriday with Phindy time!!! We challenge you to create something 3D with one of Phindy's cute images!

I've had that stamp for a while but never used it - bad-bad girl. It was just perfect for decoupage so I coloured 3 versions and created some dimension to the image.



The colouring was done with Copics this time, no water or pencils in sight. The sponging for background is done with Memento inks which usually don't smear my printer ink but did this time, argh.



Those beautiful papers are from MME, the flowers I created meself from the same DP and some obscure brads from my stash. The border punch is from EK success and leaf punch from Xcut. The sentiment is from Amy R set, it says Thank You inside.



COPICS:
face & bird:E9/15/97/13/40/21/44/71
coat:YR23, YR14, Y28, YR12, YR35, Y13, Y00
umbrella, boots: R29, R17, R05, R43, R22, R02, E71
puddles: BG72, BG11, BG000
sky: B14/25/00/0000
Greys used: C8/7/5, W9/7/5/3/1/00

Now you can happily hop over to Phindy's Challenge blog and check out the work of the rest DT, it's absolutely amazing!!

I would love to enter the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly - sketch
Crazy Challenge - Spots
Crazy 4 Challenges - Paper Flowers
Simon Says Challenge - Gotta Have Friends
Hanna and Friends - favorite colour (deep gold and teal, both happily present)

Thanks for looking and happy crafting!
Hugs

Newsflash and a moggie card

I know I promised not to take on any more DT work but some time ago Denise from Whimsy stamps contacted me to ask if I would like to design for them and I just HAD to graciously (read: squealing frantically) agree. Because:
a) it's an INCREDIBLE compliment - have you SEEN the work of Whimsy DT??
b) I flippin' adore their stamps to the oblivion and back.

So from now on I won't be giving ANY promises! lol

Anyways, this is my first Whimsy card as a fully fledged DT member:



I just had to use that moggie with a sign - so versatile, you could stamp any sentiment on it. I needed a card for a birthday of my son's friend from play school, so "Happy Birthday" it was. I stamped the moggie on cold press watercolour paper with Versafine ink - I prefer that to Stazon. And, you know, it felt GREAT to actually stamp!!

The colouring is once again Derwent Inktense pencils - this time with water. Lovin' them at the moment. The intensity of the pigment is just fabulous and because of the waterproof-when-dries factor it's a joy to add highlights with different colours without everything getting muddy!

The stars are from grungeboard set I've had for yonks and barely used. I dabbed a Tea Dye distress ink on top straight from pad so it pooled and was a bith blotchy, then blasted with heat gun and rubbed Frayed Burlap Distress Stickles on top with me finger. Heat gunned again. Nice 'n textured.



The papers are from old collection of MME, unfortunately I have NO idea, which one. Perfect for boy card though! Sentiment stamp is from LOTV set.

Had to dig very deep into my Random Button Box to find the perfect buttons and I have no idea where I got the burnt orange cord from. It was just there, staring at me, sayin' "I'm perfect. Use me!". lol

I would like to enter this card into following challenges:
Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch
Simon Says Challenge - Friends (moggies are the best friends and the card is for a friend!)
Crafty Creations - Shine (one word - Stickles)
One Stop Craft Challenge - One For The Boys
Polka Doodles - male card
Colour Create - photo inspiration

Thanks for looking and happy crafting!!
Hugs

Isabella's Challenge - Summer Fun

My idea was to create a very summery sunshiny scene. I used a Garden Gate image from Isabella's Boutique.


The colouring is done with Derwent Inktense pencils. I used old-fashioned blending without any mineral spirit or water.


The papers are from OA Fly A Kite pad, felt ribbon, embroidery yarn and buttons from my stash. I coloured the felt ribbon (and the best part of my fingers) with Glimmer Mist. The sentiment is from Cornish Heritage Farms.


Make sure you head over to check the fabulous creations of the rest of the DT and play along for a chance to win some Isabella's images.

I would like to enter following challenges:
Crafty Creations - shine
Crazy Challenge - all things spotty

Thanks for looking and happy crafting!
Hugs

A little dose of cuteness

I am only showing this card today because my beloved does know my blog and looks at it sometimes and it was meant from my daughter to him for Fathers Day.

The image is from Lily Of The Valley last release which made me break my spending embargo. Just too cute and totally reminds me of my 20-month old twirling in front of the mirror sporting floppy hat and my handbag!

The colouring is a bit different today, I felt the need to step away from Copics for a little while and boost my creativity by playing with other mediums. So I used Derwent Inktense pencils with water. Those pencils are great, wonderfully intense colours and very rich in pigment. What I especially like is that they become waterproof once dry and thus layering different shades and colours is a total joy!

The card is a bit smaller than usual, 5x5 inches. Scalloped base is from Papermania, papers from OA Thrift Shop pad. I kept the layout very simple, taking care to place the image and sentiment into the sweet spots(top left and bottom right areas). Letter stickers are from OA as well and the only embellie I used is some Dew Drops.

I would like to enter the following challenges:
Sweet Stampin - Clean and Simple
Polka Doodles - Fathers Day
Papertake - ice cream flavors (strawberry, honeycomb, pistachio)
Totally Gorjuss - sugar and spice
The Shabby Tea Room - inspirational photo and stripes

Thanks for looking and happy crafting!
Hugs

Sentimental Sundays - Favorite Sentiment

Favorite sentiment can be a bit of a tricky thing since it changes according to day and mood. But I picked the one that works for me right now, right here.



The sentiment is from a freebie set from Sentimental Sundays blog that Ann obligingly put together using my choices - wonderful! Image is from A Day For Daisies printed on pearlescent card and heat embossed. All the colouring is done with Copics - word of warning: markers behave more like paint on heavy coated card, traditional blending doesn't really work, you've got to use more strokes than circular blending and avoid applying too much ink as it will eventually just move around in little pools.

The papers, ribbon and cork button are from Pink Paislee. Lace and dragonfly from my stash. Tried to keep the card relatively simple to let the image work on it's own.

Copic colours:
Skin: E53/51/50/02
Hair: E49/37/33/43/41
Flowers: R27, Y17
Leaves, ground: BG99, G85, YG13, YG00
Sky:B97/95/93/41/00, BG000
Dress: B72, BG000

Be sure to check out the fab work of our Sentimental Sundays DT!

I'd like to enter following challenges:
Totally Gorjuss - Sugar and Spice
Paper Play - something old (the dragonfly. I almost tossed it about half a year ago!)
Stamp Something - Something Summer
Bunny Zoe Crafts - Nice and Girly
Meljens - ribbon, fiber, lace
Drunken Stampers - colouring and bling
Little Red Wagon - beads

Thanks for looking and happy crafting!
Luvs ya all

Stampin' For The Weekend - Sketch and colour combo

This week on Stampin' For The Weekend we have a lovely sketch from Sandie together with a colour combo of Yellow and Blue.

Our sponsor this week is Crafts and Me with a cute Sweet Pea stamp.

I used Mo's cute fairy for my card and chose papers from Webster's Pages 6x6 pad, mainly because it had just the soft shades of blue and yellow I was looking for. For added depth I sponged all the edges with Memento inks.



The image is coloured with Copic markers and and the background done with Prismas and plain ol' sponging of Memento inks. I glittered the baby fairy's wings and some details on her dress and created a little water with Glossy Accents - I don't think it shows very well in the picture.

The fancy corner is the same yellow DP covered with double sided adhesive sheet and ran through with Sizzix die, then glittered. Little metal butterflies didn't photograph well, they actually look a lot subtler and very nice. Ribbon and lace from my stash and the sentiment is from The Little Paper Shop.



Copic Colours:
Skin: E13, E21, E00, E000, E02
Dress, flower: Y0000, Y00, Y11, Y13, Y15, Y17
Hair: E99, YR24, YR12, Y35
Water, wings: BG72, B00, BG000, Bg00000
Stones: W7, W5, W3, W1, G21
Green accents: YG67, YG06, G21

My plan is to give that card to the teachers in my girls play school when she moves on from baby room to toddler room. They are very fond of her and already getting teary, I kid you not!!!

I would like to enter following challenges with this card:
Meljens - Ribbon & Lace
Our Creative Corner - Gotcha Cornered
PaperPlay - something old (the butterflies, had them for AGES)
Hand Full Of Stamps - Water
A Spoon Full Of Sugar - Sunshine
Tuesday Throwdown - Summer

Thanks for looking!
Luvs ya all!!!

Phindy'S Place Challenge - Summer Sunshine ... and I hang my head

It's time for Phindy's Challenge and we would like you to create a card inspired by summer sunshine - using Phindy's image.

Now, my card is a bit of a botch-up. I had image coloured to match the papers, the card all stuck together - and then dropped blue ink pad on top of it. There was no way to save the image and I was running out of time so I either had to miss the challenge or think of something fast.

I coloured the same image quickly in warm greys and stuck on top of the ruined one. I only noticed on photos it wasn't even straight...aaargghh.

The sentiment is computer-generated. Papers are from We Are The Memory Keepers and now I have finally decided that I don't really like them at all. The butterfly charm was bought a long time ago from Ebay and is mainly there to try and cover some of the blue ink stains. Ribbon and flower from my stash.

COPIC COLOURS:
W9, W7, W5, W3, W1, W00, 0

Please head over to Phindy's Challenge blog and look at the fabulous creations of the DT, none of them has had ANY botch-ups, just pure and utter fabulousness!

I would like to enter this card into following challenges
Fussy and Fancy - monochromatic and wings
Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Blossoms and Butterflies
Crafty Calendar - Bugs And Beasties
Crafty Ho's Challenge - Brights

Thanks for looking and happy crafting!
Hugs

Isabella's Challenge - Honouring Fathers

You'll just have to believe me when I say this card is actually nice IRL, it did NOT photograph well!! Of the gazillion shots I took that's the LEAST blurry!!




I know it seems a funny choice of image but my Dad LOVES to shop, especially when I send him a little gift dosh, lol.


I coloured Isabella's cute doggie image with copics and layered DCWV Linen Closet papers on hessian fbric which I frayed and cut deliberately a bit uneven to have more natural feel. Wooden buttons and rick-rack twill are from my stash.




I stuck Maya Road kraft envelope inside to put the money or gift card in.


Don't forget to head over to Isabella's Challenges blog to see all the gorgeousness the DT has come up with!

I would like to enter this card into following challenges:
Cupcake Craft - One For The Boys
Totally Gorjuss - For The Boys
Totally Paprcrafts - Animal Magic
Stamptacular - A Tribute To Fathers
Rosie D - Something Blue

Thanks for looking and happy crafting!
Hugs

Hey, candy lover!

That means ... well, all of us, I guess.

The point is I've been meaning to post about Mina's candy for a while and keep forgetting about it. Yes. You're right. Babies ate my brain. Especially considering that I GO TO HER BLOG ALMOST DAILY. Duh. Her work with Distress inks is truly exceptional and her cards always a real eye candy. Can you say 150.000 hits? Well, that's how many she has under her belt!

Here's the candy. LOOKIE - ribbon! Pins. BG pad I've been coveting. Loadsa yummyness.

The candy is open until Sunday, June 20th - so hurry up.

And don't mind me, cranky today. Had my Friday DT card ALMOST finished and then dropped ink pad (Bahama Blue, Memento, in case you're interested) on top of it. Have to start all over. HATE that, besides - I'm swamped with other things this week anyway. That pesky family life, so interruptive...

OK, I will stop ranting now, before I'll be banished from blogland for disruptive behaviour.

Luvs ya all

Girls just wanna have...

I've been itching to colour me some Mo for a while so decided to abandon my responsibilities and have some pure fun.



Loving that little diva and all her smashing accessories. Along with her attitude, lol. I really enjoyed colouring her, pretty much ignored all the rules and went happily overboard.

I used BoBunny Sophie papers again, that sheet with four printed fancy shapes is coming real handy! Loved the colours as well and thought they'd be PERFECT for a little diva.



Also used some Prima swirls and bright orange satin ribbon from my stash. I made the deep burgundy shaggy flower myself from wide 2-inch ribbon and dug out the big orange bling brad from scary depths of my stash. The sentiment is from My Favorite Things.

COPIC COLOURS:
Skin: E35, E21, E00, E000, E02
Boa, shoes: V09, V17, RV09, V06, V05, V04, RV11
Dress: YR07, YR04, YR02, yR00, YR0000, YR14, Y28
crown, necklace, earrings: Y23, Y17, Y08, Y28
Hair, gloves, shoes: C8, C7, C5, C3, C1, C00

I would like to enter this card into following challenges:
Sundays With Crissy - Relish To Embellish
JUGS - Digi
The Crazy Challenge - You're A Star
Crafty Creations - Child's Play
Simon Says Challenge - Recipe (2 papers, 1 image, 3 types of embellies: ribbon, bling, pins)
Bee Crafty - Bloomin' Marvelous ( must use digi image)
KL SNS Challenge - Girly Birthday
Meljens - Sparkle, glitter & bling
Bunny Zoe Crafts Challenge - Nice And Girly

Thanks for looking and happy crafting!
Hugs