Cupcake Craft Challenge 216...Witches & Pumpkins

Only two more sleeps to Halloween...so excited, I love this time of year as there's always so much to look forward to. I've also got 3 days off work this week...Happy Half-Term...get in!

I've got a spooky card for you today which is for our new challenge over at Cupcake...the challenge has been chosen by Delphine and I was so excited to see it was a halloween challenge...WITCHES & PUMPKINS. I think I've fluffed slightly in that I appear to have not included a pumpkin, however I'm pretty sure that this cute lil witch would have put some in the spell she is brewing!

Our fab sponsor this week is Prairie Fairy and I would like to say a huge thank you for this fab image they gave me to play with. They're offering a $10 Gift Certificate to the winner who will be chosen at random.

I'm entering my card into the following challenges...
Digi Designs Challenge...Anything Halloween (ends 9/11/12)
My Time To Craft #194...Halloween (ends 2/11/12)
One Stop Craft Challenge #202...Halloween (ends 9/11/12)

Digital Image: Prairie Fairy (Brewing Spells)

Digital Papers: Digitalfield (Halloween #2)

Colouring Medium: Promarkers

Card Stock: Ebay

Tools: Nestabilities

Embellishments: Green Jute, Flowers and Glossy Accents (on her glasses) from my craft stash

Sentiment: Created on the Computer

Cupcake Craft Challenge 203... The Great Outdoors

Hey peeps, hope this morning finds you all well and hugs for any poorlies amongst you.

I've spent most of my weekend watching the Olympics (mainly the Equestrian events) and what an amazing opening ceremony we put on...makes me feel proud to be British! Hi-light of the evening for me was the line delivered by the Queen..."Good evening Mr Bond"...classic TV and our Queen is a true legend for taking part!

It's Cupcake time today and we have a fab challenge for you...THE GREAT OUTDOORS...a nice easy challenge really and loads of different options...I've gone for a golfing theme and if you need inspiration make sure you check out the design team work on the challenge blog.

We have two sponsors for you this week...
Polka Doodles are offering a digi Image to the winner
Marianne Design are offering a Pretty Paper Bloc (Vintage Pastels) Don and Daisy Stamp and a Leaning Tower of Pisa Die (see piccy below)

Digital Image: Prairie Fairy (Golfer Lewis)
Card Stock: SU! Tempting Turquoise
Embellishments: Glossy Accents for his Glasses
Tools: Quickutz Corner Die
Sentiment: Created on the Computer

Cupcake Craft Challenge 201... Le Tour de France

Good morning me lovelies, hope you've all had a wonderful weekend...we actually had sunshine here yesterday...ssshhhhh don't tell the weathermen, they'll go and ruin it for us!

Today's card is for Cupcake and the theme has been chosen by my gorgeous and clever teamie Shelly who just so happens to live in France...she has chosen a very topical theme...LE TOUR DE FRANCE...so anything French or Tour De France related is required for this weeks challenge. You can include...wine, food, the Eiffel Tower, colours, the french flag or of course cycling. Make sure you pop over and check out the DT creations if you need any inspiration!

We are sponsored by Sew Sweet this week and they are offering a £10 Gift Voucher for the winner.

Digital Image: Prairie Fairy (Gilly's Bike - Pre-coloured image)
Design Papers: Echo Park (Country Drive)
Card Stock: SU! Rose Red
Embellishments: Lace, Ribbon and Pearls from my Craft Stash!
Tools: X-Cut Flower Punch and I can't remember who makes the stamen punch
Sentiment: TLC

Cupcake 196...Red, White & Blue

Good morning me lovelies, hope you've all had a good weekend and that any poorlies amongst you are feeling a bit better. I had an enjoyable weekend crafting...not something I've really had time for over the last weeks!

I'm coming at you from Cupcake Craft Challenge today...it's my turn to choose the theme and I thought that as England are playing France today in Euro 2012...I've gone for a colour theme of RED, WHITE & BLUE (didn't really think that out with the jubilee celebrations last weekend did I?)

We have two fab sponsors for you this week...
Prairie Fairy who very kindly donated the image on my card...they are offering a $10 gift certificate to the winner and
In 2 Stamps...with a prize of €10 (euro)gift certificate

We hope you'll join in the fun this week and we look forward to seeing your entries.

Digital Image: Prairie Fairy (Fisher Beary)
Digital Papers: Shabby Princess (Celebrate)
Card Stock: SU! Brilliant Blue
Embellishments: Gingham Buttons & Embroidery Thread from my Craft Stash
Tools: Quickutz Corner Die, Stapler
Sentiment: Created on the Computer

Cupcake 190....Best of British

Wow what a busy weekend we had...we threw a surprise 18th birthday party for James on Saturday and he had a fab time celebrating with family and friends...yesterday was spent pottering around tidying up and putting the house back in some kind of order. I'm going back to work for a rest today lol!

We have an amazing photo inspiration challenge over at Cupcake today...the theme has been chosen by the gorgeous Shelly and it's called BEST OF BRITISH!

Here's your inspirational piccy...

We're really looking forward to seeing your entries for this challenge and we hope you have a ball creating!

We have two fab sponsors for you this week...
Crafty Emma's Store with a prize of a £10 Gift Voucher and
Cupcake Cards and Crafts are offering one of their paper pack downloads to be chosen by the winner.

Design Papers: Shabby Princess (Celebrate)
Digital Image: Prairie Fairy (Golfer Lewis)
Colouring Medium: Smooth White Card & Promarkers
Card Stock: SU! Brilliant Blue
Embellishments: Crystal Effects on Glasses, Star Buttons & Thread from my craft stash!
Tools: Dymo Machine for number '50'
Sentiment: Created on the computer

Cupcake Craft Challenge 181...Boys & Their Toys

Boohoo, it's Monday already and the start of another working week...the weather here was beautiful over the weekend, it felt like a proper spring weekend and it was lovely to see people out and about enjoying the warm sunny weather!

We have a lovely new challenge for you over at Cupcake today...the theme has been chosen by my gorgeous teamie Denise and it's all about the boys...well BOYS AND THEIR TOYS actually! The Cupcakes have some fab inspirational makes to show you over on the challenge blog...we hope you have fun with this challenge and we look forward to seeing your entries!

This weeks prize is a £10 voucher (excl P&P) to spend over at Crafty Emma's Store

Digi Image: Prairie Fairie (Fisherman Lewis)
Design Papers: The Digi Chick (Paper Daisies)
Card Stock: SU! Wild Wasbi
Embellishments: Glossy Accents, Jute Mesh & Dotty Buttons from my Craft Stash!
Tools: Stampin Up Small Word Window Punch
Sentiment: Bazzill Basics Rub-On

CES Challenge 73...Spots & Dots

Wow, it's the weekend already and it's frightening the speed at which the weeks are disappearing...no plans as such this weekend but you can be sure I'll be crafting somewhere along the way!

We have a lovely new challenge for you over at CES Challenges...we had some fab entries for last weeks challenge and you can find the winner and Top 3 over on the challenge blog. This weeks challenge has been chosen by the lovely Jenny and she wants us to use SPOTS & DOTS! The girls have gone all dotty and provided some fab inspiration if you want to pop over for a looksie...we hope you have fun with this challenge and we look forward to seeing your entries!

This weeks prize is a £10 voucher (excl P&P) to spend over at Crafty Emma's Store

I'm entering my card into the following challenge...
Allsorts Challenge Blog (Challenge 142) Anything goes

Digi Image: Prairie Fairie (Golfer Lewis)
Design Papers: My Minds Eye (Happy Go Lucky)
Card Stock: SU! Nearly Navy
Card used to Print Image: Smooth White Card
Embellishments: Bakers Twine & White Button
Tools: Quickutz Corner Die
Sentiment: Craftwork Cards Birthday Messages

CES Challenge 72...Lots of Layers (3 or more)

Good morning my lovelies, I cannot tell you how pleased I am that it’s the weekend…I’m in need of some serious down time although it has to be said I’m not really in the mood for crafting…I might settle down and watch a movie this afternoon…I had the Twilight Trilogy DVD for Christmas and haven’t got round to watching them yet…today could be the day!

Saturday’s are kinda cool cos it always bring a new challenge at CES Challenges…we had some fab entries for last weeks challenge and you can find the winner and Top 3 over on the challenge blog. This weeks challenge has been chosen by Karen and she wants us to use LOTS OF LAYERS (3 or more) the girls have provided some fab inspiration if you want to pop over for a looksie…we hope you have fun with this challenge and we look forward to seeing your entries!

This weeks prize is a £10 voucher (excl P&P) to spend over at Crafty Emma's Store

I'm entering this card into the following challenges...
Cards for Men (Challenge 3)...Seeing Red
Here Come The Boys (Challenge 20) Favourite Song (Driving in my Car by Madness)

Digi Image: Prairie Fairie (Racer Lewis)
Design Papers: My Minds Eye Lime Twist (Fly-A-Kite)
Colouring Medium: Promarkers & Smooth White Card
Embellishments: Black Ribbon, Bakers Twine & Star Buttons
Tools: Fiskars Threading Water Border Punch
Sentiment: Craftwork Cards Birthday Messages

Cupcake Craft Challenge 177...Recycle!

What better way to start Monday than with a Cupcake! Yup we have a fab new challenge this week chosen by the gorgeously Fluffy Faye and it’s all about RECYCLING!

Now, if you’re me, you automatically start raiding your wardrobe to see what ribbons and buttons you can cut off clothing…if you’re the rest of the design team you have the ingenious idea of recycling cartons, boxes and other such items you may find lying around your house. I’ve written a note to myself that in future I must ‘think outside the box’ that is my craft space!

I’ve have recycled the little yellow button on my card and some gorgeous black webbing that was wrapped around the new pyjamas I received for Christmas! Pop over to Cupcake to see the inspirational projects from the design team and prepare to be wowed at some of their makes! I’m really looking forward to visiting this week’s entries and getting my much needed fill of inspiration from everyone…bring it on!

This is a close up of the glossy accents I used on the watering can...

This weeks sponsors are Bugaboo Stamps and they offering 7 digital images to the winner! They also very kindly provided images for the design team to use this week...thank you Bugaboo!

Our second sponsor is Creations by AR and not only are they offering 2 templates to the winner, they are also offering a 10% discount code to all participants of this challenge. Just enter to code...challenge10...at checkout!

Digital Image: Bugaboo (Tulip Can)
Design Papers: My Minds Eye (Everyday Flair)
Colouring Medium: Promarkers & Smooth White Card
Cardstock: Black (The Papermill)
Embellishments: Small Buttons, Glossy Accents & Gingham Ribbon from my Craft Stash and black webbing and yellow button are recycled
Tools: Various shapes & sizes of Nesties
Sentiment: Created on the Computer

Gorgeously Girly Gillian

When I think of all the times I've chased my cards around the garden in the wind and sometimes rain (how sad am I) attempting to seek the perfect picture to post on my blog...all this time lurking in an internet shop was a daylight lamp that would make my life a whole lot easier! Why oh why did it take me so long to make the discovery of just how brilliant these lamps are? Probably because I'm blonde and probably coz I can be a bit of a numpty sometimes!

This is the first card I have photographed using my new lamp and I have to say I'm really pleased with the end result...I didn't have to manipulate the picture too much in Photo Editor either...just a tiny tweek with the contrast to get better clarity and bingo a fairly decent piccy that for once I am happy with!

This is a just because card...just because my craft stuff has been packed away all week whilst we decorated our bedroom...just because I had a quiet hour to myself last night and just because I wanted to try out my NEW LAMP!!!

I'm entering my card into the following challenges...
Wags n Whiskers (# 66)...Black plus ribbons or Pearls
The Paper Shelter (# 37)...Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp...Anything Goes

Digital Image : Prairie Fairie Designs (Purrrfect Friends )
Design Papers : Nitwit Collections (Breath Fresh Air)
Card Stock : Black (Ebay)
Colouring Medium : Promarkers & Smooth White Card
Embellishments : Ribbon from The Range, Pearls from my Craft Stash, Butterfly from Sophie's Craft Stash
Sentiment : Craftwork Cards

Cupcake Craft Challenge 160...The Darkside

Morning my lovelies…I hope you’ve all had a wonderful weekend...thank you to everyone who entered my candy giveaway that finished yesterday evening...you can check out the winner here!

I made this card for Sophie to wish her good luck on her first day of secondary school…hence the good luck sentiment! She was thrilled to bits with it and she loved the black and purple colour combo…me thinks she is a bit of a goth at heart but she still loved this darling lil Punk Rocker Gillian and the image (digi) was very kindly supplied by this week’s Cupcake sponsor Prairie Fairy (thank you PF).

The gorgeous Delphine has chosen this week’s Cupake theme of THE DARKSIDE! Now before you panic and worry that we have a Star Wars theme for you fear not...we don’t want you to use anything that remotely resembles the Star Wars universe but what we are asking for is a colour theme of BLACK & PURPLE!

You can stamp onto a neutral base and use skin tones and hair (unless you want purple or black hair) but otherwise your creation must be purple and black! The DT really enjoyed playing with this challenge and they have created some amazing cards for inspiration over on the Cupcake blog so pop over and prepared to be wowed!

This weeks sponsor is Prairie Fairy and they are offering a lovely £15 Gift Certificate and Septembers Icing on the Cupcake sponsor is Bunny Zoe's and they are offering this month's lucky winner a £15 Gift Voucher to spend in their on-line store!

I'm entering my card into the following challenges...
One Stop Craft Challenge (# 149)...Girlie
Delightful Challenges (ends Weds 21/9)...Girly Girl

Digital Image : Prairie Fairy Designs (Punker Gillian)
Design Papers : Scraps from my Paper Stash
Card Stock : Black (Ebay)
Colouring Medium : Promarkers & Smooth White Card
Embellishments : Ribbons & Roses from my Craft Stash
Tools : Martha Stewart Border Punch
Sentiment : Created on the Computer

CES Challenge 51...Brown, Pink & Aqua

Morning gang...happy weekend to you all and even better still here in the UK it's a long weekend with a bank holiday Monday tagged on...hooray! I so hope the weather holds today as we are having family over this afternoon/evening and the plan is to have a BBQ...fingers crossed pleased!

We have a lovely challenge for you today courtesy of CES Challenges...my fab and incredibly talented buddy Jane has chosen the theme and she wants us to use BROWN, PINK & AQUA on our cards...I love these colours together and had great fun making my card...gotta love this image from Prairie Fairy...the 'Gillian' images are a real hoot! Don't forget to check out the amazing DT creations...they have made some stunning cards this week!

This weeks prize is a cool £10 gift certificate to spend in Crafty Emma's Store...her massive clearance sale is still on and she currently has 25% of Whiff of Joy stamps...so make sure you stop by and pick up a bargain or two!

Also check out these gorgeous new wooden buttons in stock at Crafty Emma's Store...there are several different designs available and I'm pretty sure these will fly out the store!

Digital Image : Prairie Fairy Designs (Bath 'n' Bubbles Gilly)
Design Papers : My Minds Eye (Fly-A-Kite & Dwell)
Card Stock : SU! (Chocolate Chip)
Colouring Medium : Promarkers & Smooth White Card
Embellishments : Ribbons from Craft Stash...White Flower Button, Bakers Twine, Pink Carnation Flower Stems, Pink & White Flowers from Crafty Emma's Store
Tools : Square Nestabilities
Sentiment : Tim Holtz Word Adage Ticket