Michelle Underwood ROCKS

OK so I know I am biased because I am on her DT, but seriously, Michelle Underwood is amazing.  Her newest release kit, 'Sunday Kind of Love' (available HERE at 2Peas) is full of the loveliest images, and I've made a couple of cards to show you some of them.

First, these yummy yummy butterflies.  And I also love this gorgeous background paper too.

And how cute are these little birds?

Supplies: Image and PP - Michelle Underwood; Stamps - Hero Arts; Cardstock - Core'dinations

This last card is made from her last kit 'You Picked Me' - released at 'The Daily Digi'.  I love this pretty flower.  I added a bit of crazy stitching - this was deliberate wonkiness. :)

Supplies: Image and PP - Michelle Underwood; Stamp - Hero Arts; Button - Papermania
These digikits make cardmaking so easy - if you need a quick card, downloading the images, cutting them out and sticking them on is a wonder.  And if you, like me, have NOT managed to master Copics... pre-coloured images make a great solution.  (I WILL master Copics soon.  I WILL.)

A video... stitching on cards

Ok I did it.  I made a sewing video... not a very good one, I am not high tech at all, and I only have a regular camera with a movie setting... but I did one nevertheless.  And here it is.

And here are the resulting cards. :)  Made using YUMMY papers by My Mind's Eye from their Be Loved and Ooh La La collections. Love THIS die cut sheet, and THIS polka paper especially. Gorgeous.

Supplies: PP - My Mind's Eye, Rub-Ons - Cosmo Cricket
For this card, I made my own felt stitched heart.  I also added some light stamping to the die-cut using a Hero Arts flourish stamp. 

Supplies: PP and die-cut - My Mind's Eye; Stamp - Hero Arts; Rub-on - Cosmo Cricket; Gem - Papermania

So - there's my 2nd ever video.  Hope you have a good weekend.

P.S.  Have you've seen my new challenge?

Lucy's Cards: Challenge 4 - Glitter

One of my favourite things.  Glitter.  Yum, yum, yum.  So now I'd LOVE to see your glittery creations.

The details:
Create a card using any type of glitter - glitter glue, glitter pen or good old fashioned sprinkly stuff.
Your card can be any theme.

Link me to your blog post or photo using the Mister Linky box below.  Remember to link directly to the card.
Challenge closes: Wednesday 3rd February 2010.
Hope you get a chance to enter. :)

1. Peggy 2. Patricia 3. Hazel 4. Chrissy 5. Hazel (another) 6. Marie B. 7. Sanne 8. Jennifer Styles 9. nikki schmaltz 10. Elena B. (Pelusa) 11. Brenda Urbanik 12. Nela 13. Deirdre 14. Michele Rezewski 15. Alice W. 16. byulgzr 17. Vera Ling 18. Esme 19. SmilynStef 20. Mabel M 21. Amie

22. byulgzr (another) 23. Fika 24. cinnamonsally 25. Marijke 26. Virginia L. 27. Lynn 28. Ashley M 29. Caroline M. 30. Beverley 31. Vera Ling 32. Sav O'Gwynn 33. adele robbetze 34. Katherine 35. Deirdre #2 36. Monika Reeck 37. Liz Baker 38. Janet 39. Hazel (another) 40. libeeti 41. Piali 42. Kathy Racoosin

43. Caroline 44. Tina 45. Jane (Croatia) 46. Moshie 47. Bev 48. Susanne Nilsson 49. lisa a. 50. Amanda P. 51. Alice W. 52. Sue-ann 53. Jenny M. 54. Ann Cox 55. Virginia L. #2 56. Lorena (Paperella) 57. Hazel (another) 58. Rainy 59. cinnamonsally (2 ) 60. Susie Sugar 61. Katherine W. 62. Marie B. 63. Marie B.

Exciting news...

I've been published in Papercrafts Magazine's special stamping magazine, 'Stamp It!'  And I am thrilled.  I never imagined when I started making cards 16 months ago that I'd end up INSIDE one of the magazines I was devouring for inspiration...  I still can't quite believe it.  I probably won't fully believe it until I see the magazine in the flesh :)  Can't wait for it to arrive on my doorstep...
 
And the icing on the cake is the fact that the card is my first EVER digital creation: Birds on a Branch, using my all time FAVOURITE digi image - Vintage Skyland Birds.

Supplies: Vintage Skyland Birds. Image, Stamp and Notecard- Hero Arts; Paper - Little Yellow Bicycle.

Thank you Papercrafts - I am honoured.

 And I've been meaning to do this for ages... so:
I get lots of questions about my cards, and although I try to email people with the answers, I know I probably miss a few.  So I thought I'd post a list of a few of the most commonly asked questions and my answers.

1.  What products do you use for printing digital images and papers:

      I just have a regular Epson colour printer, designed for photo printing.   I usually use cheap, white cardstock - what ever's cheapest - but recently I've been using some ultra smooth, quality 120gsm cardstock from an office supply store, and I've noticed a difference.  It really helps with coloring images in too.  So although I like to save money (and spend it on pretty products instead) I am now realising that it's worth spending a bit more for a smoother finish.

 2.  How do you keep stitching so straight:

      Thanks! Truth is, I am not sure.  I have my machine switched to a slow setting, and I just watch the foot like a hawk...  I often turn the side knob manually rather than using the foot control - it takes time, but gives a much neater line.  If I can ever bring myself to make another video, I will do one on stitching.

3.  How do you finish the inside of your cards:

     Honestly... I don't.  But my favourite tip is to sew everything before sticking to the cardbase.  This means nothing shows inside.  But generally, I don't really mind a bit of neat stitching showing in the card.  It's nice to have that handmade touch ;)

4.  What string do you use:
The string I use on pretty much EVERY card (very boring...) is just crochet thread.  I bought a ball of thread for about £2 ($3) and it will last me forever I think. Love it.

And finally today... the winner of my last giveaway never claimed her prize, so I redrew, and have a new winner:
JILLIAN FOSTER. Email on its way Jill.

You Stole my Heart

Time for a new Caardvarks challenge, and the theme is red hearts!

My card is very simple, I wanted it to be more suitable for a girl to give a boy.... think it might be a bit too cutesy for that!!!
It also fits the current Hero Arts challenge - Friendship and Valentine's.

Supplies: Stamp, Notecard - Hero Arts; Kraft Cardstock - Bazzill; Stickles; sewing machine.

I love this cute truck by Hero Arts - I've been wanting to use it for ages but haven't found the right card... and now here it is.  The sentiment is computer generated.

Click HERE to check out the challenge at Caardvarks, hope you enter. :)

Challenge 3 winners and a little bit of love...

I had to get Andy to help judge this competition - there were just so many gorgeous entries I couldn't decide.  So here are our top 3.  Remember to click on the pictures and names to check out their work properly.  Oh, and I've just noticed that all 3 are BROWN. What a coincidence...

 

                    Krysten Ng                                                      Lynn

                                                                 Jill 

Thanks to everyone who entered.  You all inspire me so much.

And here's a quick card I made tonight to round off my monochromatic 2 weeks.  I used THIS cute digikit by Holly Brooke Jones - such sweet images, perfect for Valentines.

Supplies: Notecard - Hero Arts; Image - Holly Brooke Jones; Rub-On - Cosmo Cricket.

New challenge coming soon...  Let me know if you have any ideas on challenges YOU'D like to see :)

More Cards for Kids

So I cracked open my new products and had some FUN combining them with THESE adorable digi labels by Shimelle Lane. Love the vintagey feel of these. Had to use 2 of my favourite animals from my new K&Co Chip Box.

These are for Jennifer's Cards for Kids drive.

How CUTE is this little guy???

Supplies: Stamps and Notecards - Hero Arts; Chipboard - K&Co; Labels - Shimelle Lane; PP - My Mind's Eye.

I tried to add some humour by adding the fishbowl inside the card - I'm going to write "YUM" next to it.

This weekend's flown by - but I did a LOT of work in the garden.  Every muscle in my body is screaming.... I hacked down a LOT of ivy! :)

i love ewe

Have you met my friend Jane?  She is not only an amazing cardmaker, but she also designs too.  She creates digital images for Squigglefly, and her images are ADORABLE.  

So... check out Sherman the Sheep.  I have to apologise to Sherman, as I've dressed him in a pink, glittery coat... not very manly, but very pretty!!!

Supplies: Image - Squigglefly; Sentiment - Computer generated; Notecard - Hero Arts; Glitter - Doodlebug.

And it's FRIDAY.  Hooray.  The snow's almost all gone, so this weekend Andy and I are going to do some serious gardening.  Can't wait.

Have a happy weekend everyone. 

Cards for Kids

Isn't Jennifer McGuire the greatest.  She's ALWAYS doing something wonderfully selfless and giving.  If you haven't already seen it, she has a card drive going on at the moment for a number of sick kids who could really do with some nice mail.  Click HERE for details.

So I made a couple of cards - I am not great at kids' cards... but I've done my best, with the help of an ADORABLE digikit by Crystal Wilkerson.  Check it out here - it's FULL of fun.

Supplies: Stamps and button - Hero Arts; Papers - Crystal Wilkerson.

I plan to make more over the next few days, so I just bought some new items to help me. Haven't been supply shopping for a few months now (unbelievable...), so I thought it was time to treat myself.

Check out my purchases...

  I got this set of Prima rubons... Oh my goodness how adorable are they. I am so excited to get them open...

I got this box of K&Co Chipboard Animals... hooray

I also got the Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg Chipboard Shapes... the squirrel was actually calling to me in my sleep:

I'm determined to be more adventurous with my ribbons so got this pretty set to try out:

So... this weekend I expect I'll mostly be making ANIMAL themed cards. Hooray.

Happy Wednesday everyone - I love Wednesday - the week's half way through.  Nearly the weekend now.

With all my Love

I made this card with this month's Hero Arts theme in mind: Friendship and Valentine's - this sentiment is one of my faves for Valentine's Day.  Another Dawn inspired flower here - this one was punched from stamped paper, then I inked the edges with my Tim Holtz blending tool.  Love my Tim Holtz products. :)

Supplies: Stamps - Hero Arts, digital PP and Leaves - Betsy Tuma (click HERE); Ink - Tim Holtz (Tattered Rose); Cardstock - PTI; Ribbon - Creative Impressions; Button - from stash.

Happy Monday everyone - hope you are all well.  Just a reminder to bkeefe to email me - I have a prize package waiting for you.  And a reminder that my current challenge, monochromatic, is still running - hope you get a chance to enter.

Dawn McVey

I love Dawn McVey's blog.  She's been a source of inspiration to me from my very first card.  I just adore her style.  And now she's started doing videos too I am really happy.

So I made this card for Raspberry Suite Color Challenge No 21 and thought I'd try out her latest video tutorial on making these adorable paper flowers.  Click HERE to check it out. 

Supplies: Stamp, Notecard, Button - Hero Arts; Aqua Card - PTI; Nesties - Labels 8 and Scallop Circles; Ribbon - Creative Impressions; Sewing Machine

Thanks for another awesome challenge Dawn, and for the fab tutorial.  I may be making these flowers all day... :)

Challenge 2 Winners and Giveaway Winner

The entires for my 2nd challenge, Wings and Strings were stunning - and I REALLY struggled to pick my favourite 3.  But the 3 below especially stood out to me.  Such wonderful designs.  Click on the picture to see each amazing card in full.

     

                              Kathy Racoosin                    Kiara Lee        

                                                      Mariana Grigsby 

Thank you to all those who entered.  My 3rd challenge is up and running now (details HERE), can't wait to see what wonders you create - loads of lovely entries already.

And... on to the winner of my JustRite giveaway.

Thanks to Random.org, the winner is...

 bkeefe 

who wrote: 

I check your blog almost daily and always love what you create. Am following the caarvarks challenge too and enjoying all the creations. Thanks for a chance to win.   

See you all tomorrow with a card!

Edited to add: prize never claimed

So I redrew: winner = Jill

Valentines...

Another snow day for me today.  So I've been making Valentine's cards.

First, I made this card for Embellish Magazine's current colour challenge: pink, red and black with hearts. Yum.  I wanted to keep it really simple, and draw the eye to the heart.

Supplies: Notecards - Hero Arts; Chipboard - GCD Studios; Die Cut and Button - Papermania; Punch - X-Cut; Glitter - Doodlebug.

To make the heart, I first stitched around the heart shape onto the Notecard, then I added Glossy Accents and glitter to the die cut heart.  I layered it up with a punched heart and a heart shaped button. I added everything with pop dots.

And secondly, I made a card using this GORGEOUS new digikit from 2Peas, Winter Love Notes.  How cute are these little birds???

Supplies: click HERE.

So happy Wednesday everyone.  Have a great day wherever you are.

P.S. - if you haven't seen my new challenge yet, check it out HERE.

Lucy's Cards: Challenge 3 - Monochromatic

Woo hoo - after 3 weeks without the internet, I am BACK ONLINE.  This calls for BIG celebrations.  So I thought I'd have a new challenge.

And the details:

Create a card using only ONE colour, along with black and/or white.
Your card can be any theme.

This challenge is open to EVERYBODY - wherever you live. :)

Link me to your blog post or photo using the Mister Linky box below.  Remember to link directly to the card.
Challenge closes: Friday 15th January 2010.
And I know I have not spotlighted from my last challenge - I promise this will be done in the next day or two. :) 

Best of all, today is a SNOW DAY so no school for me :)  The first snow day I have had in all my 30 years!!!  Amazing.

And finally, just a reminder to enter my giveaway if you haven't yet.  Click HERE for details.

And REALLY finally, check out THIS post at Caardvarks... massive news.  CARDS magazine is sponsoring an upcoming challenge and the prize is PUBLICATION!!! AWESOME.

Hope you are all well - missed you.  Can't wait to do some blog surfing...

1. Kelly Jo 2. Krysten Ng 3. Piali 4. Dawn T 5. Lynn 6. Hazel 7. Dotty Jo 8. krolski (kathy) 9. shawnte 10. Hazel 11. Cinnamonsally 12. Krysten Ng 13. Lin 14. byulgzr 15. Nikki C 16. Brenda Urbanik 17. Brenda Urbanik - 2 18. Tracey Kuzniak 19. Jane

20. Katherine 21. Josephine L 22. Lin #2 23. Dallas 24. Sanne 25. Sanne 26. hooliegirl 27. Sue-ann 28. Vicky 29. Laurel S 30. Brit Swiderski 31. cinnamonsally 32. Lynn 33. Jill 34. dustypenny (Joy) 35. Giovana 36. Lee - grandmalee 37. Kathy Racoosin 38. Liz Baker

39. Victoria 40. carole 41. Nancy K 42. Hazel (another) 43. Dawn T #2 44. Giovana 45. Jennifer Styles 46. Simone Naoum 47. Katherine 48. Vera Ling 49. Virginia L. 50. Shauna 51. Caroline M. 52. Stephanie Gruss 53. Sarah Belgium 54. Brenda Urbanik #3 55. wintam 56. Piali #2 57. Amanda Profumo

Birthday Flowers

Here are more cards I made using gorgeous JustRite stamps.  JustRite are sponsoring the current challenge at Caardvarks - click HERE to check out the challenge details.

Supplies: Stamps - JustRite, PP and Chipboard - Cosmo Cricket and October Afternoon, sewing machine.

I love these fun papers and stamps - thanks JustRite for the amazing sponsorship.
And if you didn;t see, I am giving away a set of JustRite stamps - scroll down for the details...

Caardvarks New Year Sketch Challenge... and a giveaway!!!

Woo hoo - it's time for another Caardvarks challenge.  And there's a FAB sketch to use and super sponsorship, meaning an awesome prize.

JustRite have sponsored the challenge, and they sent us LOADS of stamps to play with.  I had a lot of fun.

Here's my card for the sketch.

And here are a few more I made with the GORGEOUS stamps:

All are made using paper and chipboard from Cosmo Cricket and October Afternoon along with the fab JustRite stamps.

So hope you get a chance to play along with the challenge - click HERE for more details and check out the prize - $100 JustRite voucher!!!.

Enjoy the sketch!
Oh and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all.
As a new year's gift, I have a set of JustRite stamps to give away to a random commenter.  And I'll throw in a wood stamper too :)
Here is the set (click HERE to see it in the JustRite store):

Good luck!
xxx