Dream Valley Challenge 31: For a Special Lady

The new challenge at Dream Valley is "For a Special Lady" and I've made my card for my extremely special little lady, Lou. She turned 8 yesterday and I really don't know where the last 8 years have whizzed to. She is as beautiful as ever, and getting so mature......we have had some lovely, more grown up conversations with her lately. It scares me that time can move so quickly and that my little girl is not so little anymore, but it's also kind of exciting and interesting too.

 

Anyway, for this challenge, we are sponsored by the very awesome Saturated Canary. The team were massively excited to receive an image from Krista and I chose Bubbles for my Special (Little) Lady. Bubbles looks like a more grown up Cinderella and Lou LOVED her princesses, especially Cinderella........and everyone loves bubbles so this image is absolutely perfect for her! I've coloured her with Promarkers, gloss and Stardust Stickles.

 

I wanted to make something a little different for Lou.......I looked at so many options but decided on my usual easel card, but tried to make it a bit different by cutting "bubbles" from a cello card bag. They were a bit of challenge tothey to stick, but I'm pleased with the result, although I'm not so sure the "bubbles" are all that obvious in the picture. Here's another pic that might show it, and the colouring a bit better:

 

Well, I need to be off......hubby's 40th today.....

 

Can't wait to see what you create. Have fun!

Susie

 

Ps Here is some info about our amazing sponsor:

My name is Krista Smith. I am the artist behind the Etsy shop, Saturated Canary Digis. I began working in the stamping world about a year ago when I was hired to create rubber designs for the sweet Scottish company, Sugar Nellie. They launched my artwork under the name 'Simply Sassy.' I moved into the digital world just this past month (it's been a super busy month, indeed!). And-- I love it!! There is a little more freedom here, as I can create anything that pops into my head:)! I am so humbled by the artistic talent of the girls coloring in my designs-- it is truly an inspiration! Likewise, I am so thankful for the friendships I've made in this wonderful and lovely crafty community! It's been a true delight! I'd love for you to stop by my challenge/inspiration blog, Saturated Canary Challenge and join in the fun...And, while you're there, click over to my personal blog (Saturated Canary) and introduce yourself! I am a bit eclectic and touch on everything from family (I've got me a great one!) to fashion (obsessed!)...Please say 'hi!'...I'd love to be friends!:)

Winner gets $10 Voucher

Scraps and Flourishes

I love to use up my scraps.....did you know that?... You did?......Oh, ok, lol!! Well, I've used up LOADS of scraps in these four cards!

 

Firstly, I had fun sticking the First Edition Up, Up and Away paper strips and scraps to some 6 x 6 paper I don't use any more (although normally, I just use my computer paper). I really love this bit - deciding which strips to put beside one another. While I was waiting for it to dry properly, I die cut some Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourishes and looked out my Buttermint Card Candy, which go perfectly with these papers.

 

This was the first card I made and it uses almost a full sheet of the scraps paper. It includes a little ribbon and a die cut scalloped circle from my VERY neglected (but previously extremely well used) Papermania Venetian Skies pad. (Extra brownie points for using neglected stash?!). The punched daisies have a bit of silver doodling added.

The second card I made, uses another sheet of scraps. The Venetian Skies paper hides a die cut circle cut from the scraps (which I have used on the top card). I got the beautiful satin ribbon from Dunelm Mills and I love how easily it makes pretty bows.

The third card uses 3cm squares of the scrap off cuts, layered onto navy paper. The sentiment has been stamped directly onto the card. The flowers have also been punched from the scraps.

The last one (shown at the top) uses the dies cut scrap circle from card 2, together with the scrap from a previous die cut ages ago from white paper.

 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - to Die For

Craft Door Magazine - Show us your favourite technique (using up my scraps)

Cheery Lynn Designs - Birthday

Craft Your Passion - punches and Die Cuts

Lexie's Creations - use your punches and dies

A Fanciful Flourish Card

I love using up scraps and I love this MME Everyday Flair paper pad - the colours and designs are lovely and fresh, but simple! And for this card, I've used my new Cheery Lynn Fanciful Flourish die. I've admired it on others' blogs for a while and I am really pleased with it! I'm guessing you might be seeing rather a lot of it in future!!

I have also included a crocheted flower that I have made. My Nan taught me to crochet years ago and, after a trip to Dunelm Mills, I took a notion to try it again. I found a really easy flower pattern and practiced with my cheap wool, although it is maybe a little chunky to use on a card, so I had a try with some embroidery thread - a much flatter, more delicate result! I've added a punched, embossed flower and brad and my new favourite LOTV ticket and word stamps finished off my simple card.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The Poodles Parlour - Going Round in Circles

Truly Madly Crafty - Handmade flowers

Paper Sundaes - Anything Goes

Thanks for looking and for any comments you leave. I really appreciate it.

Susie x

 

 

 

Luv a Latte with a Latte (Shock!)

I do love this Luv a Latte stamp and, for once, I have kept her coffee cup and NOT substituted it for a champagne glass!!

 

I have coloured her with my Polychromo pencils again, but the paper is quite rough, so the finish isn't quite as "polished" as normal, although each time I look at it, I become a little less critical of it. The Sugar Bowl sketch has been used once again, and the optional theme of Stripes has been observed this time. I've used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the stars paper and folded and sewn the white ribbon into pleats. The stripy paper is from the MME Everyday Flair paper pad. The ticket and wording is from LOTV.

 

Isn't it strange how designs and layouts change from your initial plans?! For example, for this one, because I wanted the image to "pop", I used white embossed paper. I knew I wanted to pleat the white ribbon, but it all looked too plain. I tried loads of different embellishments, in lots of different positions, until I eventually tried placing it all onto another layer of paper, patterned this time. Then, I was finally happy with it and the embellishing was easy. Yet for my Delicious card, I had planned to use a number of different patterned papers, but decided that it just looked far too much and pared it down to just 2 papers!! Best laid plans, and all that!

 

Have a lovely day, peeps.

Susie x

 

 

Dream Valley Challenge 30 - Earth Tones

I LOVE an excuse to get time to make some jewellery, so Dream Valley's challenge of Earth Tones was an absolute gift for me!

I've had this gorgeous ring pendant for ages and had fun sketching a few ideas to go with it while I had the kids at soft play one day. The waxed cord is from Dunelm Mills, which has recently opened near us. Originally, I had planned that the beads would be added alternately to each of the double cords throughout the necklace, but after the first couple, I decided that I actually liked it better with both cords being threaded through one bead at a time (must be my simple tastes again!).

I have sewn a few tiny seed beads and a yellow Swarovski crystal to bling it up a little and make "more" of the pendant. The earrings were made ages ago but seem to suit this necklace, although it matches better when I actually wear it!

I've made this necklace for myself to wear with my summery vest tops, whilst on holiday. Although I love colour, I also love the range of browns and khaki that I seem to have in my hot summer wardrobe!

So, what will you make for our Earth Tones challenge? Remember that you can make any crafty project as long as it fits the theme. And this fortnight, we are sponsored by Bead Crafty - oh I'm sooooo jealous!!

Happy crafting!

Susie x

Sugar Bowl 81

I know it's not really, but it feels like ages since I played along with the Sugar Bowl and the Sugarnellie Facebook Challenge.

 

Delicious was one of the stamps I chose when I was lucky enough to win the Sugar Bowl one time. I used my head, rather than my heart, for choosing this one, so it's taken me a wee while to get it coloured, but I'm so glad I have! And my head was right to choose it as I can think of loads of peeps it would suit. I'm also starting to love it like my other Sassy stamps!

 

I've coloured her with Polychromo pencils and Stardust Stickles in colours that suit the challenge on the Sugarnellie Facebook page. I love this colour combo and it goes perfectly with my First Edition Spring Drop papers.

I've kept it simple, apart from some birthday goodies in the form of a stamped and coloured cupcake, bottle of champagne and glass. I've also doodled around them edge of the image in a white embossing pen - not particularly obvious, but it's there!

 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Sugar Bowl - sketch

Sugarnellie Facebook Challenge - colour inspiration as in photo above

Ruby's Rainbow - Birthday Cake

Anything Goes - Anything Goes

And just a note to any iPad fans - I am now able to use my iPad for blogging. I am using the Blogsy app and it is brilliant! I am able to add photos from my gallery, camera roll and photostream (after first uploading REALLY easily to Flickr) and even managed to add the design seed photo through the Google part of the app. I haven't yet mastered how to get the Facebook page URL to show in order to add a link for the Sugarnellie page, but I'll keep trying. I'm hoping that this might mean that I'll be able to blog a little more often as I can do it from my craft desk or in the kitchen, rather than having to schedule computer time!

Happy crafting and blogging, my lovely friends!

Susie x

A Couple of Male Cards

I really enjoy making male cards- keeping them simple but trying to add interest through texture, rather than fuss- it suits my kind of style.

The first card uses one of my all time favourite images,  No. 1 Fan, coloured with promarkers. The papers are a mix of Bo Bunny Alora and Basic Grey Oliver, matted onto red paper.  I've used my favourite scrim, with layered paper on top, some corrugated card (previously a Starbucks wrap) and some punched stars.  I've added some rafia cross stitches too and some faux stitching around the circle.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The Sugar Bowl - Sketch
 Karen's Doodles - Make it for a Male
Stampalot - Happy Birthday

The second card, uses the other halves of the papers, layered onto red paper.  I've coloured LOTV's Deckchair Dreaming with my polychromo pencils - pleased with the grass on this one!!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Cards for Men - Great Outdoors
Crafty Purple Frog - Anything Goes
Lili's Little Fairies - Anything Goes
Moving Along With the Times - Cute 'n' Cuddly

Dream Valley Challenge 29 - Wedding / Love

 Our lovely teamie, Mel gets married today, so in celebration of her big day, the theme at Dream Valley this time is Wedding / Love.  And you should see Mel's amazingly beautiful creation - WOW!

For my card, I have used Sizzix Wedding flower with various scraps of card and paper, a MME flower and a gorgeous gem brad from stash.  I've layered 3 hearts. one cute from gorgeous vellum (that's always slightly disappointing when I try to use it!!) and the sentiment.  As you can see, I've gone a bit mad with the dies and my Big Shot!  The papers are Summer Driggs free downloads - one is the Dryer Lint at Tiffany's kit, but I'm not sure about the spotty one.

We have our wonderful sponsor One Stop Card Crafts with the following prize for a lucky winner:

I'm looking forward to seeing your lovely creations for Dream Valley.  Happy crafting!

Susie x