Molly Blooms chillin' at the beach

New challenges at Penny Black at Allsorts where the them is 'Flower Power' and it's our first Birthday so we have a bit of fun adn some etra prizes planned. And at Stampalot tje theme is 'Anything Goes', a nice easy one.

So as you can see I've been having a play with some on the new Seaside Molly range of stamps which you will find here. All fairly simple, images coloured with Aquamarkers, some clouds and sand, a little boat in the background and a computer generated sentiment.

The card above has some of the lovely new Scribble Scrabble DP from Stampalot and Penny Black 4035K letters and flowers which I just love using this way, simply inked with distress inks and spritzed with water before stamping. The flower is made from the same DP using Tim Holz tattered floral die and the swirl is also TH, tattered flourish.

The card above has a background created by dabbing blocks of distress ink onto a piece of linen cardstock, the over stamping with Hero Arts S5316 silhouette grass and Penny Black 2666K blush. The sentiment is Penny Black 3940F life.

Summer Flowers and candy winners

Good evening everyone out there in blogland.

Home at last, seems like we have been away forever and straight back to work today and so no chance yet to catch up on blogging, but have this evening earmarked for a bit of a hop. The wedding was fantastic, the whole week wonderful and so much to tell you but as I don't have any pictures yet because I just did not have the opportunity to take any myself, I am going to save it all for a post on it's own which I will hopefully get done later this week.

So all I have to share is one card.........but taken in the garden close to one of the kolkwitzia bushes (picture above) which matches the colours perfectly..........and my card incredibly fits a number of challenges as there are several of my 'regulars' which have very similar themes and time being in short supply until I get myself back into home mode, I am doubling up a bit, I don't think I have ever managed more than 3/4 before. So the challenges, Penny Black have the theme of "In the Garden" which goes very well with Cupcake challenge of "Summer Delights" and Everybody Art Challenges which is also "Summer", then Creative Card Crew want to see "Pink and Green" typical summer colours, ABC's theme is "V for Vintage" and I have followed a sketch from Inspirational Card Sketches and finally Tuesday Taggers would like to see "Texture".

My main image is Penny Black 4036K Poppy Poem stamped onto a background of Brilliance inks and Glimmer Mists to create a hazy colour. The flower head have been decoupaged after colouring with Marvy pens and spritzed with Glimmer Mist pearl. The DP is My Minds Eye and Basic Grey, all nicely distressed. The swirls and die cuts from Magenta, inked with brilliance and embossed with detail clear. Ribbon and liquid pearls added to finish.

Goodness, almost forgot to announce the winners of my little candy prizes who are:

Julie

The Sparkly Fairy

Well done to both of you, please mail me brenda@ibas.co.uk with your addy and I will get them off in the post to you.

Altered art wedding hat ?

Morning peeps, hope you all had a good weekend. Apols I have not been round to visit for a few days, but time seem in short supply at the mo with so much activity and wedding preparation plus trying to get ahead with my DT work before I go.

So, where to start, an award from Lina, thank you so much Lina you are a great blog buddy, Top 5 place with this at ABC, thanks to you girls, a wedding fascinator with a crafty influence and a card for challenges.

First a special share for you today........'the' wedding hat, or to be precise fascinator........I love big hats but with waist length hair that I wear up most of the time, hats don't really sit atop too well. But I love feathers, so these top nots are right up my street and so elegant.

But you know me, there has to be a bit of crafting involved, oh yes, I do mean in the fascinator..... call it altered art. I did exactly the same with this wedding as our eldest son's last year, bought one outfit and then saw another.......I know, logic says take one back, but well I love silk which they both are plus the bolero jacket with the first is lovely so you know what happened........yes I now have two outfits.

This little number which I bought with the first outfit matched the second one as well, but I thought it needed a touch of lilac to match the hint running through the fabric of the second outfit so embarked on a bit of titivating. Some lilac feathers, silicone and dries clear glue from my craft room, and there you have it ready to go.

Lots of you have asked about the Matron of Honor's dress. Still missing four weeks on I'm afraid and with the wedding next week we have all accepted it's unlikely to turn up. So she has offered to try and find a replacement in Paris this week, but easier said than done as far as matching colour goes as the other four girls dresses are with us. On a positive note, my shoes are wearing in nicely and the bride and groom seem to have passed the stress barrier and come out the other side.

Now a card for this weeks Penny Black challenge which has the theme "Flowers" and Cupcake whose theme is "Blooming Charming" and Secret Crafter which would like to see "Metal" on projects (butterfly charm).

It gave the perfect chance to indulge in the new Kaiser DP freshly arrived at Stampalot this week along with some more Magnolia flowers which just happened to match perfectly. My main image is Penny Black 3976K acrobat, coloured with Copics and decoupaged with three layers. The sentiment is Hero Arts A4981. I punched the borders with Fiskars threading water and added lace, a butterfly charm, punched leaves, glitter and some cord.

Golden roses

Hope everyone is having a good Sunday, here in the Fens the rain has stopped at last and the suns making a reasonable effort, but judging by the clouds it won't be around too long.

And it's the last day of the Premiership, I'll miss my footie like crazy, but we do have the world cup coming up.......not sure if that is good or not, but we can but hope for positive things. An yesterdays 20/20 match was exciting so more of that to come this week.

A card to share for this weeks Penny Black challenge where they have a sketch......and a perfect chance to use some of the new goodies from Sir Sampalot on one of my sample cards. As usual when I saw the circles I freaked, I always struggle with them, heavens knows why. Also a couple of new ones for me, well at least it's a long while since I entered so thought it was time. They are Flutterby Wednesday, plus two both celebrating their Birthday and have that the, Stamp Something and Simon Says.

I drew my colour inspiration from this pretty Cosmo Cricket DP and coloured my main image Penny Black PB40-021 For Goodness Sake with Copics. I stamped the image three times and decoupages and masked the base image to stamp the fence which is from Magnolia Tilda collection. The cobbles, flowers and grasses and Art Impressions. The large rose is one of the scummy new ones from Magnolia........have you seen the colours, how to choose.......well you can't really, so it's probably no surprise I have a bag of them sitting in my craft room along with the lovely matching beady leaves.

The sentiment is Hobby Art GR435. I cut the second circle on the sketch from a doily with a Nestie, the middle panel was run through the Big Shot with a Cuttlebug folder and the border are Martha Stewart doily lace. Some lace, ribbon, gems and pounced butterflies to finish.

Blogger threw a Hissy Fit

Looks like all the scheduled activity on my blog this weekend was all too much to cope with for Mr Blogger and he threw a real hissy fit. My first scheduled post for Stampaot popped up OK Saturday, but the other three were going nowhere it seems and I only just realised, so for speed I have combined them all into this one post, which cover this weeks Allsorts challenge, the new May challenge at By the Cute and Girly and this fornights one from Rosie D's. I also reckon two (above and bottom of post) fit this weeks Penny Black challenge Lets Get Punchy so here goes with that as well.

You might remember that I told you last week I had got my projects a bit muddled for Allsorts, but now I can share the one I had prepared which I said would fit Kirsten Animal theme just perfectly. The clock is a kit from Kaiser Craft courtesy of Sir Stampalot and includes the template and clock workings so you end up with a project that actually works......how cool is that.

The wooden clock template has two pre cut apertures, in one I put a picture and the other Penny Black 2685J Dance onto a piece of textured cardstock to go into the other. I used Kasier DP to cover the clock, drawing my colour choice from the photograph of Anysia taking part in Strictly Come Showjumping last December. I was actually so pleased when I saw the picture she had chosen because whilst I would normally have used one with a horse, I thought in view of her accident I would let her select a picture and half expected a holiday one, but no horses are still first priority with her. The stamping is from Magenta CS-043 and Roman numerals cut with a Sizzix die with pearls for the other hours.

Next the May challenge at By the Cute and Girly and this month Jenny has chosen the theme Celebrations, lots of scope there for whatever might be going on in your cardmaking calendar. As I have a list of Wedding card orders and not forgetting those I will be needing for the wedding of one of our sons at the end of this month, that's the celebration I am going with.

My first card (at the top of this post) follows the colours scheme for our sons wedding of white and burgundy. I punched the leading edge of the card with Martha Stewart eyelet lace, distressed with Tim Holtz fired brick then stamped with Hobby Art GR1341F Shakespeare Sonnet using the same TH ink. The main image is Penny Black 4035K letters and Flowers stamped with black versafine and embossed with detail clear over a background if the same TH ink and spritzed with Glimmer Mist iridescent gold. The swirl is JudiKins 3347F and the sentiment which I think is lovely for a romantic card is Penny Black 4070F Dreams. Roses made from paper, pearl stamens and more pearls and cord tied around the card.

My second card is more traditional, roses again embossed round the edges with detail gold embossing powder and borders and corner punched with Martha Stewart embossed heart. The sentiment is Art Impression J3398 stamped with versamark and embossed with detail gold and cut with Nesties through the Big Shot. Some ribbon across the card and a pin with a pearl added. Oh yes and the DP is Magnolia.

And finally but by no means last, at Rosie D's Saskia is hosting the challenges this month and has come up with the theme So Yummy - cupcakes, chocolates etc. I've had this stamp since it came out as a cling back in January so thought it was time to give it it's first inking up. It is Penny Black 30-016 Hedgehogs Birthday which I stamped with versafine back and embossed with detail clear and coloured with Copics giving the cake a liberal coating of glitter.

The DP is Magnolia, the punch Martha Stewart doily lace and the sentiment is Penny Black 4070F Dream which I thought was perfect to go with Hedgie blowing out his candles. I bought the ribbon with the row of cupcake ages ago and knew the occasion would eventually come when I found a use for it, so thanks Saskia.

Sunflowers

Before I launch into the card I have to share with you today, a quick reminder that you still have until noon Wednesday if you have not already entered our Stampalot challenge where this months prize is a Cricut Create machine.

So a card for two challenges, Penny Black have a recipe: three flowers, two buttons and a bow. I did have a bit of a senior moment after it was all put together because theoretically there are more than three flowers, but checking the DT samples it looks as though the three flowers are embellies rather than those of the image, so hopefully it's OK. And you PB girls might need your specs for the buttons, but they are there as part of the foliage growing up the trellis........artistic licence OK ?

And the second challenge is this weeks Cupcake challenge whose them is "Don't be Square" no square cards allowed. So I should be OK here, the base cards is a 5x7 with a shaped top section which I created on the Cricut welding a square and oval together on the DS using Plantin Schoolbook.

My DP is Kaiser, the punch Martha Stewart garden trellis and the image Penny Black 3874K Hello Sunflowers stamped twice and decoupaged onto a background stamped with Penny Black 2410K Penmanship. The image is coloured with Marvy pens and spritzed with Glimmer Mist pearl to make the flower heads pliable. My Hubby commented "Sunflowers are yellow".......my answer - "more artistic licence" and anyhow, I had to try and make them match the three ready made ones.

The swirl is a Sizzix die, the mats Nesties all cut through the Big Shot and the three sunflowers were lurking in a box from I don't know where or when.......just proves, never throw anything away.

Hues of brown

A very good morning peeps, it looks like another fab day in the making here in the fens. We had a glorious day yesterday, the sun was actually warm enough to sit in without a jumper.......believe me, it takes some doing to part me from my my top layers. But am I glad of the dry weather, I was dreading rain as soon as that digger arrived and had visions of muddy paw marks for days.

I have one quick share today which is for this weeks Penny Black challenge which has the theme 'Monochromatic Brown'. I starting with a background of Tim Holtz distress inks rusty hinge and tea dye, blending them onto a piece of pearlescent card to achieve a softer finish, first masking a moon, then spongin in some hills. The images are all from Penny Black 30-038 stamped with a variety of inkpads, then glittered here and there. The border edging is Martha Stewart 3 dot scallop and all mounted onto dark brown cardstock.

Purple Butterflies

Progress at last, I have actually managed to make a whole card in 'one sitting'. Must be the sunshine which is just breaking through and promising a nice afternoon. Probably just as well as a digger has just been delivered for hubby to do some footing work for his new greenhouse........apparently we did not have enough tomatoes and produce last year and need more space.......and tomatoes for the County this year, not just the village.

My card is for this weeks ABC challenge which is 'S for Sparkle' and I am hoping, a bit tongue in cheek that it will do for this weeks Penny Black challenge as well which is 'Buttons Galore'......now I know the collage image is not PB, but the three others I have used are. If it's not appropriate, sorry girls and count my entry out. I am also entering for the first time Flutterby Wednesday, I have no idea why I never found this one before seeing half of what I produce has butterflies or fairies on it.

So, the card itself has been stamped all over with Penny Black 2410 Penmanship using Tim Holtz crushed olive, then down the side with Penny Black 3857 Footnote. The sentiment is Penny Black 4070F Dreams and the collage image is Magenta 40301P. The background for the collage stamp and sentiment have been coloured with the same TH crushed olive and dusky concord, with a liberal helping of Glimmer Mist sweet clover and pearl. The edges have then been inked with versamark dazzle champagne and embossed with iridescent embossing powder which I also used on the sentiment and collage.

The flowers and butterflies have been coloured with Twinkling H2o's and stickles added. I tied purple glitter cord across the card and made a rose from paper spritzed with Glimmer Mist rum raisin. Finally spotty buttons added to the flower centre and the corner.

Hedgies and flowers

I have decided I ought to issue a public health warning to anyone reading my blog. As if we were not already spending enough time at hospital, last night saw another visit to A&E. This time granddaughter Azaria (who lives next door) came down the stairs in her usual Olympic gymnast style (despite being told repeatedly for years to slow down) and this time landed a bit too hard. Six stitches to her forehead and a bandaged finger, but she's fine.

I feel a bit guilty doing this post, but we are back to normal visiting hours now that Anysia is stable so can't visit until this afternoon but I can't really get my head round crafting and have been aimlessly wandering round the house, so decided to trawl my gallery to see what I have that might fit some challenges. And have come up with two.

The first is for this weeks Penny Black challenge which is "Check it Out". The hedgie is Penny Black but I don't have the code I'm afraid, coloured with Copics and decoupaged. The border is Martha Stewart doily lace trim, the corners and letters all Sizzix dies. I think this card also fits the current ABC challenge which is "R for Red".

The second card is for this weeks Stamping for the Weekend who have the theme "Ribbons and Bows" and Cupcake challenge who would like to see "make your own flowers". So this card uses a favourite image from Stamps Happen Paris Socialite with the slightest addition of watercolour, some DP from stash which I also used to make the roses, plus ribbons, pearls, a feather and lace added to embellish.

Butterflies, birds and bees

Good Morning peeps, hope you are all having a good weekend.

Just in case any of you have missed all my subtle hints, our Stampalot challenge starts on Thursday 1st April when a fantastic prize will be on offer. And there is still chance to enter for the Hero Arts Goody Bag, so if you have not already added your name here's where you need to go.

I have one quick share for you which is for this weeks Penny Black challenge which has the theme "Butterflies and Bees" not sure where the birds got to though eh Kath ? But a lovely theme all the same.

The main image is another of the new releases Penny Black 4042K Daisy fields. The background is stamped (after first stamping off the excess ink) with Hero Arts K5313 Silhouette Ivy using Tim Holtz bundled sage, then the main PB image inked up with Tim Holtz worn lipstick, spritzed with water then stamped over the ivy. The mat was cut with Nesties through the Big Shot and layered over another of the gorgeous new Crate Paper DP's.

Some ribbon laced down one side, gems and two butterflies stamped with Penny Black 3819D Polka Wings onto iridescent vellum and coloured with chalk inks. The swirl is a Sizzix die run through the Big Shot.

Yummy new DP's

I'm back again, trying to keep my promise to myself to stay busy and positive, do some crafting and blogging. So for starters a card for this weeks Penny Black challenge which has a sketch designed by Carole.

For some odd reason I always have a mental block working with circles, but am reasonably happy with what I have come up with, well at least it's growing on me. I cut a circle with a Nestie then sponging with Tim Holtz Spun Sugar and Dried Marigold distress inks created a pinwheel effect over which I stamped Penny Black 4041J Purple Folds. I stamped it three more times, cut out two and coloured with a mixture of Marvy pens and the same TH inks then dabbed all over with Versamark Dazzle Frost and spritzed with Glimmer Mist pearl which blended the colours and made the pieces pliable to shape before layering them onto the main image.

The Crate Paper DP's are from their yummy new range which somehow found their way home from Stampalot with me at the weekend. Do check them out because the designs and colours are just divine and the quality and texture lend themselves brilliantly to the Martha Stewart punches. I stamped Penny Black 3857H over the corner of the reverse DP and a sentiment which is from an unmounted Hero set. Some ribbon and a pearl pin made up with a hat pin from Spellbound (link on sidebar) to embellish.

Poppy and butterflies

Good Afternoon peeps, a share of a card I made for Sir Stampalot using some of the new Penny Black stamps and new colours of distress inks which I think fits this weeks Penny Black challenge of Spring. And this weeks ABC challenge is "Q for Quotation" so I am hoping the French quotations behind the poppy head counts here.

The other day I alluded to not feeling too well so to explain my absence in blogland lately, I had what I thought was a minor problem, but Monday evening my GP sent me to hospital and it seems it's not quite as simple as I hoped. I need to see yet another specialist, have scans and tests, but typical NHS, the whole hospital is on some sort of alert due to a rampant virus. No visitors have been allowed in the hospital since last week apparently, so I was sent home again yesterday afternoon as wards are closed, all admissions expect emergencies cancelled and as a result even urgent appointments are backing up.

I am trying my best to lose myself in crafting, but inevitably the headless chicken syndrome has kicked in and what I am producing leaves a lot to be desired, hence what I am sharing today was created last week. Afraid I can't get my head round blogging so apologies to everyone.

So my card, I created the background by stamping the butterfly from Penny Black 30-048 with versamark and embossing with detail clear, then distressing with TH distress inks Wild Honey and Bundled Sage and an overspray of Glimmer Mist Pearl to bleed the colours.

The panels for the poppy image Penny Black4036K were created with masking using the same inks and GM, then removing the masking tape before stamping the image. The border is Martha Stewart embossed butterflies and I used the tiny punched out butterflies to scatter around the main panel.

Even more Penny Black

How's all you peeps today ? Hope you all had a good weekend, the weather was beautiful here, still hard frosts at night - minus eight last night again, but at least it's drying up a bit with the sunshine.

Before I launch into my cards, just to let you know I will be a bit late posting this weeks Stampalot candy winner because there is other news I need to share with you. So that post will go up later today, just as soon as I can get my rear into gear, but there is a new Hero Goody Bag on offer and all those who comment from this post onwards will be included in the next draw.

I have two cards to share, one for this weeks Penny Black challenge who are looking for "Easel cards" and it also fits this weeks Cupcake challenge who want "Flower Power", then Stamping for the Weekend are going "Monochromatic". I thought about combining them into one, but I have so many new goodies still to play with as well as needing to do samples for my upcoming demo day at Sir Stampalot decided on two...........whilst I am on that subject, dates for your diaries:

Saturday 13th March - Chris and Lou will be strutting their stuff

and

Saturday 20th March - yours truly will be getting messy with inks and Penny Black.

The first card an easel one which I cut our on the Cricut. I started by creating a background for my main image by masking a piece of cardstock and inking an oblong with Tim Holtz distress inks mustard and broken china and spritzing with Glimmer Mist pearl to make the colours bleed. The main image is Penny Black 4040K Sparklers stamped with versafine blue. The DP is an old piece from my stash and the swirl a Sizzix die run through the Big Shot. Lace and brads added to finish.
The second card has a resist background created with stamping Penny Black 3857H Footnote with versamark and embossing with detail clear then distressing with Tim Holts Victorian Velvet.......have you guess I rather like this new one ? I then stamped the main image Penny Black Daisy Fields stamped with the same ink and embossing powder. I overstamped here and there with Penny Black 3395D.

The border is Martha Stewart garden trellis with some Sizzix leaves cut from some of the new Magnolia DP's threaded through and flowers added. I stamped down the edge of the card with the same stamp used for the background and the sentiment is a section of Penny Black 4075F.

New Penny Black

Good morning from the wet and windy Fens. It's been raining almost non stop since Wednesday, some of the paddocks are under water and it shows no sign of letting up, so if anyone has a spare boat put my name on it.

As some of you will know I was a very lucky girl last week and spent an afternoon in the company of the very talented Elizabeth Allan from Penny Black when she visited Sir Stampalot's new shop during her trip to the UK. All the new Penny Black stamps are in stock and my card for this weeks Penny Black challenge following Carols sketch uses two of the new stamps together with my take on an idea and technique Elizabeth shared with us. There was a bit of a photo shoot as well and I will share with you later in the week.

I started by creating a background with Penny Black 2410K Penmanship using Tim Holtz shabby shutters. The iris stamp is Penny Black 4041J Purple Folds which I stamped several times, coloured with Marvy pens, then inked all over with Versamark dazzle frost which makes the watercolours bleed, then sprayed with Glimmer Mist pearl which further merges the colours as well as creating a lovely sheen. When the images are still wet they are very pliable and can be manipulated to create more dimension. I cut one of the images down to create a smaller flower (the stamp itself is just the one iris) then decoupaged both.

The sentiment is PB 3418D Great day, the DP's some of the new Kaiser craft ones and yes I confess all, the punch is another new Martha Stewart eyelet lace round the page set. The butterfly is also made from a PB stamp 3819D polka wings, stamped twice onto vellum and glittered.

Don't forget to check back tomorrow when the winner of this weeks Hero candy will be announced.

In the pink

Good afternoon everyone, would you believe this card has been in the making since about 8am, some days it seems the faster I try and work the slower I am. But at least after a really hard frost again the sun is shining now and it is quite Spring like.

My card follows the great sketch at Stamping for the Weekend and the really pretty colour combo at Penny Black of 'Pink, Green and Yellow'.

Instead of working from my image backwards as I usually do, after a rummage through the 'pink' drawer I worked forward from the Doodlebug DP which has all three colours required. My image is Penny Black 3949 H Poppies, which I stamped several times so I could decoupage the flower heads and coloured with Copics.

The mats were all cut with Nesties through the Big Shot, the border is Martha Steward doily lace........I love this one, but it's a pain in the bum to punch with so I rarely use it. Despite all my efforts with foil, silicone paper and even some punch lubricator it just don't like to play ball with me. The little circle sentiment is from Hobby Art A4981 which I tied with ribbon so it dangles and finally I added some yellow pearls, punhced leaves, trirled up wire and Liquid Pearls to the flower centres.

Sheer indulgence at Penny Black

When I saw the theme at Penny Black's challenge this week I could not miss out. I have not had time to enter for a week or two but this one was a must and making this card was sheer indulgence for me and just what I needed as a diversion from all the frenetic activity of the last few weeks.

I just love Penny Black 2695J - Dance, I think the quote is so beautiful and is quite sufficient as the central element of a card. To create this I cut a square template with a Nestie through the Big Shot, stamped all round the edges with Penny Black 2642 Daisy Pattern using versamark and clear embossing powder. I then shaded over with Tim Holtz peeled paint and broken china to reveal the stamping. The quote was then stamped into the centre with versafine black ad detail clear embossing powder and I gently shaded the edges with TH black soot to give a bit of definition.

I stamped the daisy pattern down the edge of the card and embossed with JudiKins Malachite embossing powder. The border is punched on a scrap of DP from my stash using Martha Steward embossed scallop. I made three roses from the same DP and black, embossed round the edges before assembling with the same Judikins embossing powder and assembled into a spray with pearls, cord and a stick pin threaded with pearls and beads (all elements available from Spellbound - there is a link on my sidebar).

I could make this type of card all day and they sell very well, but alas there is a need for more versatility in crafting........if I sat inside my comfort zone all the time there would be no challenge involved would there ?

All go at Sir Stampalot

Ciao peeps. Hope you all had a good weekend. Ours went according to plan and I think my hubby might be in demand as a Derby mascot as they beat Peterborough 3-0. And the way our team Liverpool are playing this season he might be converted, although in reality I doubt it.

Saturday Jules and I had a whale of a time........what better way to spend the day than at Sir Stamplaot unpacking boxes of the new Hero Arts stamps and other goodies and stacking them all onto racks.........drool, drool........I was able to introduce Jules to most of the gang and it was such fun helping Andy and Janice with the move to their new store which is just amazing. And even better was seeing customers faces light up when they saw the fantastic new shop and all the space. And Louise was doing a Copic demo and showed us how to make her flowers which we decided were a floribunda/wild rose - thanks Louise.

I have lots of new Hero stamps and inks which I need to get creative with, but for now I have one card to share for this weeks Penny Black challenge which has the colour combo of Blue, Cream and Gold and I have followed the sketch at Stamping for the Weekend designed by Fiona.

I created a background with Brilliance gold, Mediterranean blue and sky blue by dabbing the inks onto a silicone sheet, spritzing with water and rubbing the card into the mix. I part dried it with a heat gun then spritzed with Glimmer Mists midnight and gold. Next I stamped Penny Black 3817K Tigress using versfine black and detail clear embossing powder and coloured in with Twinkling H2 0's. The circles are all cut with Nesties through the Big Shot and the greeting PB3419D in the same way using a Nestie ribbon slide. The DP's are Daisy Bucket and Basic Grey. Borders and corners are Martha Stewart double loop.

To create two of Louise's roses I spritzed a piece of plain paper with the same Glimmer Mists and gold brilliance, scrunched up whilst still wet and then punched out when dry and made up the flowers. Louise used the Copic air gun system to colour hers, my method was rather messy by comparison.......but you know me, if I don't have mucky fingers I'm not having real fun.

Penny Black and Friday Sketchers

Hello peeps, scheduling this one, so it should Monday when you read it and hoping you all had a good weekend. Mine was real fun but hectic to say the least, sixteen for lunch and dinner Saturday, then eight sleepovers just making their way home, so not much blogging or crafting. Work in the morning, then in the afternoon off to watch Anysia taking part in a chariy "Strictly come Show Jumping" - she's dressing as a very pink fairy, tutu and all over her joddies and Ben nicely braided in matching hot pink. Just hope there's not a horsey language where the others can tell him what a woos he looks.

Crafting........well this is it from my weekends activities, a card following this weeks Friday Sletchers and Penny Black who want to see 'Red and Gold'. An easel card as I am rather getting to like these and still have one or two crimbo cards to make. My main image is Penny Black 3768K Christmas Montage, stamped with versafine and embossed with a mixture of red and gold powder. The DP is K and Co, the border punched with Martha Stewart Apline and the gold swirl and poinsettias cut with Sizzix dies through the bug with gold gems added to the centres.

Thank you and challenges

Oh wow, where do I start, yesterday was a fabulous day at Sir Stampalot and I can't begin to express how thrilled I was to meet so many of my lovely blog buddies and to be able to put faces to names. And of course not forgetting all of those I already knew who also popped in to say hello. At the risk of offending anyone by missing their names I am just going to say a huge thank you one and all for taking the time to come, many travelling quite a distance from places such as Nottingham, Norfolk, Yorkshire and Hampshire.

I would love to have been able to spend more time chatting and talking crafty with everyone, but unfortunately the popularity of the day just did'nt allow as we were kept on your toes from start to finish. And if the queues in the shop were anything to go by there is are an awful lot of new crafty goodies being played with today.

I have one card to share with you today which is for this weeks Penny Black challenge which has the theme Christmas for the Girls and Stamping for the Weekend which wants to see Red, Green and Gold. I don't really have a 'girly' PB stamp so have gone for he more sophisticated female approach and made an easel card .......these seem to be popping up all over blogland so thought it was time I made one.

My image is Penny Black 3768K Christmas Montage, stamped with Brilliance Red, Thyme and Gold, distressed round the edges and covered with two coats of UTEE. Another of my roses that were very popular yesterday (using a 2" punch for those of you that saw a demo) and surrounded by punched leaves and pearls. The bottom border was punched with Martha Stewart embossed scallop, the greeting is my favourite Christmas sentiment this year Penny Black 3995F Ornamental Script and DP is K & Co.

Penny Black Challenge

Wooo Hoo, I won at the Penny Black's Challenge blog hop. Never entered one before so you can imagine how surprised and excited I was to see I was one of the winners. I get to choose $25 Simon Says products, so a shopping spree awaits.

And this week they have a great sketch to follow. It's not unlike one I quite often use so feel really at home with this one. I have used Daisy Bucket DP's on the base card and inked a mat using my very watery swish and swoosh inky technique with Tim Holtz Frayed Burlap, Peeled Pain and Broken China. The main image is Penny Black 3822K which I stamped with versafie sepia and embossed with detail clear and highlighted with stickles. The sentiment is Stamp by Judith SK-LG-207 and the border and corner punched with Fiskars Threading Water.