Masculine 40th

It's my partner's brother's 40th in a couple of weeks time and I wanted to make something special without it looking fussy.

So I've gone for texture - a lot of it - in shades of charcoal. The background paper is actually a piece of very expensive wallpaper. the other two black and white papers are from The Range.

I've used linen textured silver paper for the matting and added a die-cut greeting in shiny white card.

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Daring Cardmakers - layer it up
Creative Fingers #178 - anything goes
Creative Knockouts - birthday wishes
Krafty Chicks #492 - anything goes
Little Red Wagon - aw, man!

Thanks for visiting...

Sharon
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Retro Bauble

My New Year Resolution continues...

This is the third Christmas card I have made this month - baby steps but I hope to keep up the good work!

I've used some sparkly retro patterned paper from a pad from The Range - the pattern is the same  but in two different scales of size.

I've die-cut a coordinating bauble in turquoise and used pearls to embellish. I've also added a red heart and a tiny die cut bow.

I'm playing along with the challenges at:


The Holly and Ivy Challenge #64 - anything Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #474 - anything goes
Corrosive Challenge #1 - anything goes
Crafty Friends #127 - anything goes
ABC Christmas Challenge  - B is for bingo (paper, layers, die) 

Thanks for visiting

Sharon
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Fantastic Fiftieth

I was asked to make a card for my friend at work to give her Sister-in-law on her big 50th Birthday...

The digi image is of course Digistamp Boutique. I miss that store so much! I've coloured her with promarkers and used glittery pink and black patterned papers from The Range as backing papers - girly but sophisticated as well. I do love this image - I have a dress just like this but with straps - it's great for holidays and parties (btw - I am not that shape!). 

The sentiment was created in Publisher and I've embellished the card with a die-cut '50' and some black gems.

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Time Out #153 - item in your wardrobe
Southern Girls - anything goes team Lou
Aud Sentiments #243- anything goes plus sentiment
Krafty Chicks #491 - all occasions
QKR Stampede #382 - anything goes

Thanks for visiting

Sharon
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Celebrate Stepper Card

I've been to a Ross Papercraft show this morning and have acquired load of stuff I 'need' - sometimes I think my real hobby is buying card making stuff rather than actually making cards!

One of my buys was a pack of ready cut stepper card bases - I couldn't wait to use these...

I've had these cute Tutti Cuti girl toppers for a while. One of those buys I just didn't know what to do with. I picked out the gingham on her tights to use a backing paper, matted on black paper.

The greeting is a very old digi - it might be Lili of the Valley. I've then embellished with some die-cut balloons and some clack card candi.

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #123 - anything goes
Cute Card Thursday - what's new (the card base) WINNER
Corrosive Challenge #1 2020 - anything goes
Moving Along with The Times - all things new 
Creations In Pink - anything goes mainly pink
Double D Challenges - fun with balloons

Thanks for visiting

Sharon
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New Year Resolutions

Each year one of my New Year resolutions is to start making Christmas cards early -  this year I am determined to keep it! I usually make a dozen or so 'Mam' cards for people at work as they aren't easy to find in the shops (even here in the North East)...

I used an unbranded circle wreath die I bought from Wish and filled the 'holes' with various shiny papers, mirri-card and pearls. For the greeting matting and borders I've used a lovely linen textured silver paper. Finally, I've added a ready made sequin bow from The Range.

Everything is soooo shiny - it was quite difficult to photograph well!

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - anything goes
Crafter's Cafe #234 - clean and simple
Christmas Crafts All Year Round - anything Christmas
ABC Christmas Challenge - A is for anything goes
Creative Fingers #177 - anything goes
CRAFT Challenge #540 - anything goes
Little Red Wagon #532 - After Christmas is before Christmas
613 Avenue Create #229   - make it shiny 

One down - about 50 to go...

Thanks for visiting

Sharon
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Golden Anniversary Heart

Today's card is for a friend to give her In-laws on their Golden (50th) Anniversary.

I've used a variety of dies cut with the same bright white linen card used for the base card. Golden highlights have been added with dull gold backing paper and die-cut numbers.

I've added some die-cut scrolls and white pearls as embellishments.

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Crafty Cardmakers #248 - anything goes
Make My Monday #113 - anything but a square
A Bit More Time To Craft #108 - anything goes
Watercooler Wednesdays #254 - all about occasions
Creative Crafters Challenge #24 - anything goes

Thanks for visiting

Sharon
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Fabulous 40 Z-shaped Card

I was asked to make 'something a bit different' for a friend to give her cousin whose turning 40...

I love z-shaped cards - they are so simple to do but look so fancy.

The image is an old one - Party Rach from the sadly missed Digistamp Boutique, coloured with pro-markers and layered on an intricate die-cut square. The patterned paper is Dovecraft.

I've added some die-cut red numbers, and some sparkly gems. The message inside fits neatly under the image when the card is shut.

I'm entering this into the challenges at:

CRAFT Challenge #540 - anything goes
Creative Knockouts #332 - celebrations
QKR Stampede  #380 - anything goes
Just Us Girls #518 - create dimension
Seize The Birthday #180 - layer it
Creative Craft Cottage #125 - anything goes
Watercooler Wednesday #253 - feminine


Thanks for popping in!

Sharon
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LOTV Lavender Wedding

A quick tidy round in my craft room and I came upon a box of Lili Of The Valley 'Art Pads' in my stash which they sadly no longer make. As these are pre-coloured they are great for quick cards - though I did add some lavender highlights and coloured the flowers to co-ordinate with the colour of the backing card (and the wedding colours)...

The die is an old favourite from Spellbinders and I've added some pearls and ready made paper flowers.

I'm entering this card into the challenges at:

Allsorts #553 - use soft pastel colours
Gem Of A Challenge week 1 - anything goes
Brown Sugar January Challenge #297 - anything goes
Creative Knockouts #331 - anything goes
Cute Card Thursday #615 - anything goes

Thanks for visiting

Sharon
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No January Blues!

Happy 2020 everybody!

Pantone have released their colour for 2020 - 'classic blue' - so I have gathered a few bits and bobs together to make a card in the next few days inspired by this beautiful colour.

However no January blues for today's card - I've gone very colourful!

It's my Mam's birthday on the 3rd January and she likes bright and bold rather than pale and pastel so I've used an Anita's decoupage cake image with some rainbow striped backing paper. The card is very large - 7in x 7in - so it will really stand out! I've created the greeting in Publisher and added some tiny yellow gems as flames on the candles to add an extra bit of sparkle.

I'm entering this card into the challenges at:

Watercooler Wednesdays #252 - anything goes
A Bit More Time To Craft #107 - anything goes
The Crafters Cafe - something beginning with 'c' (cake)
A Perfect Time To Craft January - anything goes
Crafty Creations #405 - anything goes
Make My Monday #112a - female birthday

Thanks for visiting

Sharon
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Baby Shower

I hope everybody reading this has had a lovely break over the festive season.

I was lucky to receive lots of crafty goodies from Santa! Amongst my favourite pressies were some pastel Spectrum Noir pens and some Clearly Besotted stamps and dies - I can't wait to start playing.

However, today's card is for an imminent Baby Shower - we have no idea whether the baby is a boy or a girl so I have used the baby neutral colours of yellow and mint green...

The polka dot patterned paper and yellow matting papers are from my scraps stash  - the light has interfered with the colour of the yellow paper - it is a lot paler in real life. The epoxy stickers are seriously old - maybe either Memory Makers or K & Co. 

I'm playing along with the current challenges at:

Just Us Girls - wild card
Southern Girls Challenge - anything goes
Cute Card Thursday - anything goes
Allsorts Challenge #551 - anything goes
Pixie's Snippets Playground #368 - use snippets
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #120 - anything goes 

Many thanks for visiting
Best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2020

Sharon
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Dear Grandma

Today I'm sharing a card I made for a colleague to give to her Gran...

I've used some lovely glittery Nordic patterned paper for the background - it's so pretty in real life! The deer die came free with a magazine some time ago and I've added an embellishment snowflake with a glittery heart. Finally, I've added a tiny red pearl to the deer's nose - every deer needs a Rudolph nose!

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Cuttlebug Mania - Christmas Time
Paper Funday Challenge #12 - Christmas Holiday 
Sisterhood of Crafters - anything Christmas
Aud Sentiments #242 - Christmas + sentiment
Crafty Cardmakers #242 - Christmas
Winter Wonderland - anything goes Christmas

Thanks for visiting

Sharon
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My Favourite Snowman

Almost finished the Christmas cards now!

Today's card features one of my favourite Christmas images - this gorgeous snowman digi from Pink Cat Studio (I think) - I've had it for years!

It's for a child to give to grandparents so I've kept things cute and simple...

The blue and white spotty background paper makes perfect 'snow' and I've used a striped red and green paper to coordinate with his scarf. Finally, I've added a tiny holly sprig with some sparkly red gem 'berries'.

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Sweet Stampin' - Christmas
Allsorts Challenge #549 - snowmen
Creative Knockouts #327 - Christmas delight
Winter Wonderland Challenge - anything goes
Always Fun Challenge #139 - snowmen
Alphabet Challenge - S is for snow

Thanks for visiting

Sharon
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Nutcracker Christmas

I'm not really sure when the Nutcracker soldiers became associated with Christmas - it certainly wasn't when I was a child! But now they are everywhere and are ideal for today's card - for a friend's child to give to his uncle and his husband - not the kind of card readily available in the shops...

I've used striped textured card as the base, some traditional tartan patterned paper for the backing and added a touch of shine with gold mirri card backing. The cute nutcracker men are die cut decoupage - I love them! I've added a simple Christmas greeting created in Publisher,

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Southern Girls Challenge (Trace) - anything goes
Aud Sentiments Challenge #241 - Christmas/winter sentiment
Holly and Ivy Challenge #61 - anything goes
Just Us Girls #516 - wild card week
Always Fun Challenge #138 - anything goes
The Cat's Pyjamas Challenge # 363 - Nov/Dec/Jan holiday
Fab N Funky #459 - Christmas

Thanks for visiting

Sharon
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Lovely Bubbly Birthday !

Today's card was a request from a friend at work - to make an 18th birthday card based upon a card she had seen in Clinton's card shop..

So I took the main elements: the vellum balloons, the present and the champagne glass and created this:

I used a lovely stripe embossed card for the base card and used various dies to make the tiny parcel embellishments for the elements. The balloons and champagne glass are also die-cut and I've added loads of tiny gems to add some girly sparkle.

I'm entering this card into the challenges at:

Crafty Challenge Calendar - cute and girly
Creative Fingers #175 - anything goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #536 - make embellishments
Southern Girls Challenge - anything goes
Craft Rocket Challenge #65 - happy birthday
Crafting With An Attitude #57 - anything goes
Little Red Wagon Challenge #524 - you say it's your birthday

Thanks for visiting

Sharon
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Frosty The Snowman

Today's card is for my lovely Mam...

I've used loads of different dies here - in fact the only part of this card not die cut is the snowman (an old digi from Digistanp Boutique which I fussy cut) and the 'snowscape' which I created free-hand. I've also used a tiny glitter heart sticker in the middle of the snowflake.

I'm entering this card into the challenges at:

Crafty Friends Challenge #123 - Christmas
Outlawz Festive Fridays - anything Christmas
Stinkin' Inkers - die-lirious and punchy
Createful Heart #14 - anything goes
Try It On Tuesday - cold, cold, cold
Crafty Sentiments - Christmas
Addicted To Stamps #368 - holiday

Thanks for visiting my little blog

Sharon
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Magnificent Stags

Today's card is for a friend at work to give to her brother and his husband at Christmas - there are very few cards in the shops for gay couples and I love the challenge of making something original...

Last year when we were in New York I dragged my other half up to the Bronx as I had located a Michael's store there! I got this wonderful die set for $3 in a bargain bin ...

It would have been rude not to buy it! I love the stag die - it's perfect for masculine cards.. I used some grey toned wood-effect patterned paper for the background and kept the layout simple making the dies the focal point of the card.

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #535 - Christmas
Southern Girls Challenge - anything goes WINNER!
My Time to Craft #410 - Christmas animals
The Paper Shelter #406 - Christmas Spirit
The Sisierhood of Crafters - forest friends
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge #464 - anything Christmas

Thanks for visiting

Sharon
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Gaming Birthday Boy

Today's card is for a little boy who loves playing on his PlayStation...

I've really raided my stash for this one! The papers came from a Making Cards Magazine from about 10 years ago. The image is of course from Lili Of The Valley - from an art pad which are discontinued (why do companies discontinue their best products???)

I've matted all the papers on red and blue card and added a greeting created in Microsoft Publisher.

I'm entering this card into the challenges at:

Creative Fingers Challenge #174 - anything goes
Brown Sugar #295 - anything goes
Crafty Friends #122 - anything goes
Gem Of A Challenge #22 - anything goes
Paper Shelter #405 - card for a child
Cute Card Thursday #607 - anything goes
Penny's Paper-crafty Challenge #455 - anything goes

Thanks for visiting

Sharon
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Stag in Blue and Gold

I'm busy making masculine Christmas cards this week using my various stag dies I have acquired over the years - I do love a stag head on a Christmas card!

Here's one I made using blue and gold as a colour scheme...

I've used a large dots embossing folder for the background with some very shiny blue and gold striped card.

The die cut stag is mounted using foam pads onto white card then double matted using coordinating blue and gold card. I've added a greeting created in Publisher an 3 matching blue flat-backed pearls.

I'm playing along with the challenges at:

Gem of A Challenge #21 - anything goes
Incy Wincy Designs - animals
Dragonfly Dreams November - Christmas/winter
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #117 - anything goes
Crafty Friends Challenge #22 - anything goes
Aud Sentiments #239 - anything goes
A Perfect Time To Craft November - anything goes

Thanks for popping in

Sharon
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