A Pretty Oceans Gift

I had soooo much fun making this card!  To begin, I coloured the beautiful Ocean's Gift from Sugar Nellie with promarkers.  I coloured her in Little Mermaid colours as the little girl is a huge fan! The image was coloured twice so that I could layer it.

I decided that I really fancied making a special background for her, so I used my VersaMagic inks:

I dabbed and pulled the ink pads across the card and used a damp/wet paint brush to soften the edges and blend.  Once dry, it was embossed using my Swiss Dots folder.  

The rock and mermaid were carefully cut out and layered onto the background and then the mermaid was cut and layered on top of that  And I added her little seahorse friend, who is super cute.  

The name banner was stamped using Clearly Besotted Basic Alphabet and edged with Stickles.  The age was stamped using Clearly Besotted Basic Numbers and the shells are from Seaside set: a Special Editions Sarah Hurley set by Clare Brown.  

I would like to enter the Sugar Bowl Challenge (for a second time in one month!!).

A Few Little Gorjuss Girls

I have always loved the Gorjuss Girls and Sugar Nellie's Gorjuss Party was a perfect excuse to get them inked up again. Also, I figured that if I enjoyed using my old ones, I might justify a few of the new ones;0)!

The top image is one of the newer ones " I found my family in a book" and was fantastic to colour! I decided to colour red hair as it's not a hair colour I colour often. The paper people were cut in miniature, as we would have done when we were little. I copied this idea from Cass, who posted a beautiful picture in the Sugar Nellie Facebook group. Thank you for the inspiration.

 

For my second (and third and fourth!!) Gorjuss Girls, I decided that I would give monotone a go and loved it! This image is "Untamed" and has always been one of my (many) favourites. When Louise was much younger, her hair was very similar to this image. Originally, I'd planned to colour the apron a colour, but really liked the monotone, so kept it within that scheme.

I've kept both layouts really simple as I want to show off the beautiful images........And I am a simple gal!!

So, I have, so far coloured 6 Gorjuss Girls, made cards from 2 AND managed a blog post!!!! Woohoo! Which means that I can play in the Sugar Bowl and join the Gorjuss Party. Are you coming too? x

 

Scraps and Doodles for Sarah Hurley

Good morning, everyone.  I had a collection of scraps from Sarah's Dotty Papers and Watercolour Love collections and love the Doodle Home house stamps, so created this New Home card.  Take a look at Sarah's blog to find out more about how I created my card.  

Dream Valley Challenges - Flowers

We have a brand new challenge for you at Dream Valley and this fortnight's theme is Flowers - easy, huh!?!

 

I decided I'd use this photograph that was taken on holiday in Murcia a few years ago - I've always loved it! I've kept it all incredibly simple, with an embossed flower background, ribbon and a bit of stardust Stickles.

 

Here's another flowery creation I had a go at. It's a canvas with an acrylic paint background, including some painted flowers with Stickles highlighting. Then I've added grass (using the Clearly Besotted grass die) and flowers. The image is the SugarNellie Live, Laugh, Love fairy, whom I adore! Overall, it turned out a bit brighter than I'd envisaged, but I love these colours!! She is now hanging beside my craft desk:0)

Have fun, making your flowery creations!

Susie x

 

Dream Valley DT - Favourite Colour Combo

Well, I know it's been a while since I posted for the Dream Valley challenge, but I'm pleased to say I've made it back for this challenge, which is your favourite Colour Combo.

At the moment, my favourite colours are peach and mint, like my card and any variation on those scales: peach/coral/red with mint/turquoise/teal. I adore the combination so much that my finger and toenailsnails are like this!:

So, the image I have chosen is a Gorjuss Girl from SugarNellie, although she no longer seems to be in the shop. I've coloured her with polychromos and Stardust Stickles. The paper are scraps from Memory Box pads and the sentiment is from Clearly Besotted.

And I made this little SugarNellie cutie too, using the same colour combo:

And this one, using Lili of the Valley's Maisie Two Balloons:

See? Told you I loved this combo!!!

 

So, what will you make for us at Dream Valley this challenge? I'm looking forward to seeing.

Susie x

 

 

 

Guest Designer for Sarah Hurley

My post today, is as a guest designer for Sarah Hurley - how exciting!!

Contrary to many crafters I know, I LOVE making boys' cards! My style is fairly clean and simple, definitely un-fussy and this, I think, suits male cards rather well.

So, for these cards, made for twins, I have used Special Editions Stamps Sid the Robot by Clare Brown. He has been coloured with Promarkers and Stickles - in my experience, boys like a little bit of bling too!

I have used scraps of paper from various A Few of My Favourite Things Kits, all pieced together to make a larger background. A strip of irridescent mesh (from A Few of My Favourite Things Kit) and ribbon from my stash has been added, which provides a little texture (and a bit more bling).

So, with the same character and ingredients, I have made two cards which are the same, but different!! Do you have a favourite?

Now, just a wee reminder that your fabulous creations can be added to the Sarah Hurley challenge and the current theme is Celebrations!!

Quick ingredients list:

Image - Special Editions Stamps Sid the Robot by Clare Brown

Papers and irridescent mesh - A Few of My Favourite Things Kits

Age and Name - Clearly Besotted Basic Alphabet and Basic Numbers

 

Happy crafting, folks!

Susie

 

 

 

 

Euan is 6......already!

And to celebrate his birthday, I made him a card and matching frame. The image is called Baron and Butch and is from Mo's Digital Pencil. It really is the perfect image for Euan - he loves our border collie, Buddy and he loves his iPad mini!!

I've coloured everything to be authentic - Buddy's markings, his favourite ball, Euan's socks and iPad.....and I loved making a custom iPad with Euan's fave apps: Safari, Minecraft and music!!!! I used promarkers to colour the image and Clearly Besotted 's Basic Alphabet and Geometric Style for the named bunting.

I love making things personal and special to the recipient! Here's a close up of the card:

 

Sketch Saturday Zella

Good morning, folks! Hope you're all good. This morning I have the extremely beautiful Zella from Saturated Canary. I've coloured her with promarkers to look like Elsa from Frozen. I've added lots of bling and a few snowflakes to go with Elsa.

I have used the fab Sketch Saturday sketch last week (but haven't had time to load it in time for the challenge) for the layout, but rotated it. Love doing these little fishtail banners and ribbons! I'm sure I'll be using the layout again!

 

 

 

Dream Valley - Boys/Men

Happy New Year, folks! Did you have a good break for Christmas and New Year? We had a lovely time - Santa was extremely good to us and we had a fantastic break up in Aviemore - bliss!

So, at Dream Valley this fortnight, our challenge is Boys / Men. I had a few items I could show for this theme as December and January are petty busy for us with male birthdays, but I finally decided on this little guy, Striker. I love him almost as much as Aviator! This is a birthday card with a tag that holds a gift card, like so:

Hopefully I've not lost the bit of paper I used to record my measurements!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The Crazy Challenge - Cards for Men

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes

 

Dream Valley DT - Halloween

Good morning, peeps and how are you all? Apologies, first of all, for not blogging or visiting many blogs lately. I'm preparing for a Christmas Fayre and have had a few changes to my normal weekly routine, so blogging time is reduced just now. If you're on Facebook, though, you can have a look at some of the items I've been busy making on my page SusieLou Designs.

And now for my Dream Valley Halloween project........I decided that some Halloween corner bookmarks would be just the thing! I LOVE making these bookmarks and the little Woodware owl is the perfect addition. Louise and Euan love their books, so they'll use a bookmark too (at least, Louise will if it's in the same vicinity as one of the ten books she's reading at any one time!!!!). The tutorial is fab, although I've tweaked it a little to suit my own style. I've used bits of Halloween paper I had left, some Gorjuss Girl stripy packaging, and some scraps of ribbon.

And yesterday, I finished my owl gift card / money / sweet pockets. I made them for Christmas and birthdays, but then Mel suggested that they would also be good as Halloween treat pockets, so I thought I'd show you them too!

And with some filled:

 

 

Dream Valley DT - Buttons

For my Dream Valley DT project this fortnight, I thought I'd use my favourite Sugar Nellie fairies, which I have coloured with promarkers, gloss and Stardust Stickles. I adore these beautiful girls and their little wildlife friends. Their frames have had a few flowers, leaves, butterflies and buttons added....such fun!

I would definitely like to enter the Sugar Bowl challenge - I haven't entered a challenge for ages!

Looking forward to seeing what you make with your buttons for Dream Valley!!

 

Cute and Cuddly for Naomi

Funky Kits' Cute and Cuddly image is my new favourite image for baby cards.......I especially love the giraffe! I've coloured it with promarkers and polychromos and the balloon has been glossed. I have also used by fabulous Clearly Besotted Basic Alphabet stamps, which I love as they stamp clearly and easily line up. The layout, as ever, is relatively simple, with just a bit of texture and bling added to the image.

I would like to enter the Sugar Bowl - Anything Goes

Just a wee update....Buddy, is now 5 months old - getting big but still cute! Here he is now:

 

A Pink Balloon

I adore this ever so cute image, SugarNellie's Cute and Cuddly, don't you? I've coloured this one with promarkers and polychromos - I think the layering makes the colour more vibrant. I decided to colour the mouse ear as a bear ear and drew another bear ear to match....I couldn't handle teddy not having any ears, although I WOULD like to try doggy ears and see if that works too!!

The papers are First Edition Spring Drop and I have used some ribbon and the diamanté heart slider to add a bit of bling and "love". A little bit of Stardust Stickles and pearl wand dots add the finishing details.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Sugar Bowl Blog - Anything Goes

SugarNellie Facebook challenge - Summer Days (the colours and flowers are summery to me)

I've been having lots of fun with my children during their summer holidays - garden picnics, visiting friends, Girly day shopping, different sport activities, crafting, baking - I love having more time to spend with them and time to chill with them a bit more too! And Euan has been loving getting things ready for him starting school - thankfully, he is extremely excited and would happily start tomorrow. What have you been up to, crafty peeps?

Susie x

 

Patchwork Baby Girl

It's been a while since I coloured up Patchwork Daisy, but that was my choice for the baby girl card I had been asked to make. I've coloured the teddy with promarkers and the daisy and grass with polychromo pencils. The papers are First Edition Summer Breeze and I've used my favourite Spellbinders Foliage and circles dies. The layout is from the Sketch 'n' Stash challenge - good to join in again.

I would also like to enter the following challenges:

Divas By Design - Anything Goes

CRAFT - For the Girls 0-150

I'm off for a Girly trip to Glasgow today with my not so wee wee girl, while Euan has a lovely time getting spoilt at gran's. hope you have a love day today too!

Susie x

 

Roses are Red

This is the beautiful Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, from Saturated Canary (how I love these images...sooooo pretty!). I've coloured her using promarkers and polychromos and some Stardust Stickles. I LOVE colouring her hair...so many layers and texture to be added!

There is a little bit of FF Kraft Notes paper, matted onto mint green card. I've used my lovely Spellbinders Foliage die and xcut flower punch, stamped in Worn Lipstick Distress Ink. The sentiment is computer generated and the curly font is called Giddyup - love the shape of this and the little stars above the 'i's!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - Say it With Flowers

Stampin for the Weekend - Anything Goes

 

A Couple of 80th Cards

Alf is pretty cool, isn't he?! I've coloured him with promarkers and polychromos and the clouds have been stamped using a thought bubble stamp and Tumbled Glass Distress Ink. They have also had a bit if Stardust Stickles added too. The papers are the gorgeous Kaisercraft On the Move - I love the colours in this pad!

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Digistamp Boutique challenge - Anything Goes

Cards for Men - Sports

Stampin For the Weekend - Anything Goes

I was also asked for I an 80th card for a man who likes reading, travel and fine red wine. I saw the Freshly Made Sketch and thought that it might work for this card. (Unfortunately, I am too late to enter the challenge.)

I've used a Sizzix embossing plate to add texture to the background and the twirly border was from a Basic Grey pack. The aeroplane has been cut using a Sizzix die and some gloss. The wine bottle and glass is from the Digistamp Boutique Fancy a Tipple set, coloured with my beloved polychromo pencils, Platinum Stickles and gloss. I've also made a little book, using Inkylicious Tiny Text for the pages (unseen) and a bird picture cut from some RSPB address stickers. (I've cut the twine ends shorter now, so they no longer hang over the wine glass.)

I would like to enter Joanna Sheen - Father's Day / Male Card challenge.

 

Blossom with Sunflowers

I love this little stamp, Blossom, by Leanne Ellis....she's cute and pretty easy and quick to colour and looks pretty! When I saw that the challenge on the Sugary Sunday Sugarnellie Facebook challenge was Leanne Ellis, I knew I had to stamp her up. And I needed to make a card with sunflowers for an order, so thought I'd see if the two worked together. And I wanted to challenge myself with colours......so I chose purple and yellow and, actually, I will definitely use this combo again!

The purple paper is from the Papermania set....name has escaped me but I also have it in yellow/orange!! Blossom has been coloured with promarkers and a little Stardust Stickles for sparkle.

I would also like to enter:

Sugar Bowl challenge - Anything Goes (with Sugaranellie)

Totally Papercrafts - Anything Goes

Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes with Ribbons

Off to enjoy a beautifully sunny evening in the garden:o)

Susie x

 

Posted with Blogsy

Luv a La.....Large Glass of Wine!

Luv A Latte is a fab stamp, isn't it? But I (very) often swap her mug of latte for a glass of bubbly and she doesn't seem to protest too much!

I have coloured her with promarkers and paper pieced her skirt and top and added a bit of Platinum Stickles and gloss to the glass. The papers are First Edition Summer Breeze......I wanted a fresh, modern and summery colour palette, so matted the beautiful minty shades onto cerise pink paper. This layout used to be my "fail safe, go- to" layout, but I don't think I've used it for a while. A bit of twine and a charm completed my card.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

The Sugar Bowl - Anything Goes

Passion For Promarkers - Add Ribbon, Lace or Twine

 

Posted with Blogsy

A Pretty Church

 

When I was asked if I could make a First Communion card, I knew this gorgeous Digistamp Boutique image, Pretty Church, would be perfect. I printed it onto white card and Kraft paper and coloured the church with promarkers and polychromos. I loved adding the brickwork detail!

 

The papers are Darling Dear- I love the colour combos in this pad. I added a bit of pearly detail using the pearl wand - a fabulous purchase!!

 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Digistamp Boutique - Anything Goes

One Stitch at a Time - use a Digi

 

Posted with Blogsy

Katie's Trip to Park

I adore this cute SugarNellie image! She is called Trip to the Park and I have paper-pieced her with paper scraps and coloured her with promarkers. The dogs have been coloured to reflect Katie's labrador puppy, Indie and her gran's dog Daisy. The papers are Henbury Park, matted onto some spare purple card. I particularly like the design of the front flowery paper!

 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Sketch and Stash - Sketch

Sugar Bowl - Anything Goes

SugarNellie Facebook challenge - flowers

One Stop Craft - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz - 3 (papers), 2 (dogs), 1 (image)

Everybody Art Challenge - Flowers

Papertake Weekly - If the Paper Fits (paper piecing)

Passion for Promarkers - Anything Goes

We have had an extremely busy time lately, with lots of extras on at school, nursery and dancing, plus getting the garden levelled, moving top soil and putting up a fence..........and enjoying the sunshine. The bulk of the garden levelling was completed just before the lovely weather started on Monday, so we've had picnics, dinner outside and lots of "sports" outside - brilliant! So that's my current excuse for my lack of blogging presence!! I hope you are all fabulous! xx

 

Posted with Blogsy