Dream Valley Challenge 25 - Valentine

Happy Sunday to you all!  It's time for another challenge at Dream Valley and the them this fortnight is Valentine.  Now, I must admit that hubby and I don't really "do" the Valentine's Day thing, so I opted for making a card that could be used for Valentine's Day or an anniversary. 

I have used my wonderful Nestie Scalloped Circle and Circle dies and my fabulous new Sizzix Framelits Hearts.  I've also used the Clockworks embossing folder and Stickles for a bit of texture and bling.  And I even came across some tiny buttons and black sticky dots that I thought would be perfect.  The photograph doesn't really show it, but I've pleated and sewn the ribbon on the right of the card.

We are really lucky to have TWO sponsors this time: One Stop Card Crafts AND Joanna Sheen! 

I would also like to enter the following challenges:

Moving Along With The Times - Have a Heart

Sarah Hurley - Love is all Around

The Paper Shelter - Love is in the Air

Truly Scrumptious - Love and Hearts

Anything Goes - To the One I Love

Crafty Purple Frog - Valentine's Day / Show Us Some Love

Creative Bellie Blog - Hearts / Valentine (buttons and sticky dots)

Little Red Wagon - Valentines Day or Love

Penny's Paper-Crafty - Love is in the Air

LOTV Pirate Bear and Maisie

 This cute little Pirate Bear was made for Arran's 5th birthday.  I love this little teddy and he's been coloured with Promarkers, Gloss and some Platinum Stickles.

The papers are Basic Grey Oliver pad (only scraps left now), and eyelet in the top corner, the scrim makes another appearance too!  I've stamped the 5, punched a circle, mounted it onto a punched square and glossed the circle part.  And the Nesties Scalloped Circle and Circle dies and Clockworks embossing folder have also been used.

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Lili's Little Fairies - Oh Boy - Alas, too late:0(

Delightful Challenges - Punches and Dies

Crafty Ribbons - One for the Boys

 I've also made a 6th birthday card for another friend, Sarah, this time using LOTV's Maisie Two Balloons.  Maisie has been coloured with polychromo pencils and is lovely to colour.  The photo is a bit blurred, but nevermind, you get the idea!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend, peeps!

Fifi - Trip to the Park

 My first Fifi - Trip to the Park and I LOVE her!  She's fab to colour and looks so cute, especially with her dinky doggies and cool bag.  And is even more fun as she was part of my prize from the Sugar Bowl:0)

I've coloured her with polychromo pencils and paper pieced her top and handbag.  I adore this technique and Fifi is a lovely and simple stamp to use this technique with. 

The gorgeous papers are MME Everyday Flair and I think I'm going to need to buy more already!  I've used some more of the scrim to add texture, some satin ribbon and sewn the sequins and beads.  I love the clean and simple sketch for the Sugar Bowl this fortnight!

Here's a wee close up of Fif, hopefully showing her 3d paper pieced bag a little better.

And I would like to enter the following challenges:

The Sugar Bowl - sketch and paper piecing

Paper Pretties - Ribbon and Twine

Divas By Design - Anything Goes

My Mum's Craft Shop - Fab 'n' Funky (if only for that bag alone!!)

Another BAby Girl Card and A Winner

Yep, another baby girl card and I actually have another to make this week, all for different people and babies!  It was all baby boys a few months ago!!

Anyway, I though I'd share this card with you.  I've used the gorgeous Bambino from Funkykits.  I've coloured and 3d'd the hat but otherwise left the image uncoloured - sometimes I colour the skin too. 

The papers are First Edition Summer Bloom with some rafia lace, pink ribbon and a flower made from scrim.  I also used my new Sizzix Framelits hearts for the sentiment.  I've got an elephant and another Bambino on my desk for the next card, but which will I choose?  The theme at Passion for Promarkers this week is New Beginnings, but only colouring a hat feels like cheating, so I'll maybe do the next one with the cute elephant.....

I had a really lucky week last week: My Bella card was chosen by Elaine to show on the SugarNellie blog, then I was randomly picked to win the 4 stamps from the Sugar Bowl, then my Baby Boy elephant card was chosen as Hanna and Friends Top card!  Lots of smiles last week!!


And this week, I get to pass on some luck to the winner of my copy of My Memories Suite software. 

The winner (chosen from the names in a mug!) was Nicola, who entered on my Facebook page.  Hopefully she'll have lots of enjoyment using the software. 

Have a great Tuesday, folks!

Sketch n Stash 79

Oh this Sketch and Stash sketch was a fabulous sketch!  It was soooo good that I've used it twice, so far!

The first was a birthday card for my bestest friend, Susan, who likes gardening, hence the choice of one of my old Sugar Nellie stamps and papers!  The papers are my new MME Everyday Flair and I love them - the colours are great!

She's been coloured with Promarkers and a little Glossy Accents.  I've used one of my favourite embellishments - sequins and beads - I love sewing bows and details into my cards.

And I would like to enter the following challenges:

Sketch and Stash - Sketch
One Stitch at a Time - Round and Round
Crafty Cardmakers - Beads (in the corners)

And card number 2 is the first baby girls card of the week.

I dug out a few remaining papers from  Basic Grey Sugared pad, not used for ages as I couldn't bear to be using up the last bits!  The cute little LOTV elephant, Blowing Bubbles, makes another appearance as it is so cute, coloured with Promarkers and Stardust Stickles.  Sequins and beads again and I used a heart charm that I cut off Lou's school trousers that are now too short - I thought the squashed heart shape mirrored the ones in the image perfectly! 

Challenges for this card:

Sketch and Stash - Sketch

The Craft Garden - Monochrome

Passion for Promarkers - Recycle Something (the heart charm is from my daughter's school trousers)

Totally Gorjuss - Welcome

Sew Many Challenges - Circles

Stamps R Us - Cards for Kids

Sir Stampalot - Monochromatic - ineligible due to too many challenges - ooops!

Basic Grey - Favourite Things (papers, embellies, elephant image)

My First Mother's Day Card

I was so chuffed when this week's Sugar Nellie Facebook challenge was pink and grey, as I realised that I have loads of blue/green cards and absolutely no pink ones!

I chose my papers: First Edition Summer Bloom, and decided that I really needed to colour this gorgeous fairy again!  She's called Hello Little Friend and I love colouring her and her little rabbit.  This time, I've used polychromo pencils and Stardust Stickles.  I was a bit bold and used a little black on her socks too.  I sooooo love using the pencils - I love the effect and find it soooo relaxing!

I followed the Sketch Saturday sketch and deliberated on what embellishments to use...3 flowers? nope, too much..... a swirl?  none big enough....letters?  YES!  So it is my first Mother's Day card!

And I would love to enter the following challenges:

Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Craft Your Passion - Colour bingo - pink, grey and yellow (hair)

Papertake Weekly - Happy Highlights (Wings, wand and letters)

Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Crafts and Me Challenges - Pink and Sparkly

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

My Mum's Craft Shop - Flowers

Truly Madly Crafty - Anything Goes

A Baby Boy Card

And my first card using my cute new elephant stamp from Lili of the Valley - he's called Blowing Bubbles, and my new Sizzix Framelits Hearts.  And I've coloured him with Promarkers - yep, I managed to put the pencils down for a short while to give the Promarkers a chance!!  The papers are a real mix of whatever I was able to find rummaging around in the draw, whilst trying to be good and using some older papers!  The little elephant has been layered too for a little more detail and interest.  I haven't added the sentiment yet, as my friend's sister-in-law is expecting a baby, so I'm awaiting name and colour requirements - I've got a pink one made too!

And, this is my DT card for Dream Valley.....our theme for this fortnight is "Animals" and the prize will be a SURPRISE.  We had a really HUGE number of entries for our "Anything Goes" challenge, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what you all come up with for this challenge - happy crafting!

And I would like to enter the following challenge:

Hanna and Friends - The fabulous sketch I followed

The Beautiful Bella

Another image that I LOVE - Bella Bunting from Sugar Nellie.  She has been coloured with my Polychromos again.....the dress, bunting, socks and shoes were coloured by torch light during a powercut but I'm happy with how they turned out.  They've been cut and layered to give a 3d effect, although the photo doesn't show that very clearly.  And I now have flesh coloured pencils!

The papers are from Basic Grey Marjolaine pad, with a Crafts Too embossing folder.  When I saw the colour combo for the SugarNellie Facebook challenge (green, blue and white), I immediate thought I'd be using my beloved First Edition Up, Up and Away papers, but then Bella had other ideas and advised me that she thought these papers suited her better! 

I've used scrim for the first time - I've used it across the centre of the card and some to make a subtle flower - great as it's still fairly flat!  I LOVE This stuff!

And I would like to enter the following challenges:

The Sugar Bowl - Sketch

Sugar Nellie Facebook Challenge - Green, Blue & White

Totally Papercrafts - Make your own flowers

My Time to Craft - Favourite embellies (3D, ribbon, bow and now the scrim!!)

Charisma - Clean and Simple

Anything Goes - Anything Goes

My Mum's Craft Shop - Favourite Colour Combo - blue and lime green

One Stop Craft - Spots and ribbon

Paperplay - Ribbon every which way

2 New Necklaces

At the weekend, while the kids were in softplay and hubby was skiing, I sketched a few ideas to change an existing necklace into a less chunky version. 

When we got home, I had a little time to play and these are the result.  I love the jade crystal rondells in the second necklace - so sparkly but my photographic skills don't do it justice! 

Both neckalces are approx 18" and are £12.  If anyone would like to buy, or would like any more information about them, please email me at SusieLouDesigns@gmail.com, or have a look on my facebook page.

And you still have time to enter our Anything Goes challenge at Dream Valley.  We have had a HUGE number of entries, but there's always room for more!  Remember, that you can enter any craft, not just cards and jewellery. 

And I'm just about to update the DT details on my sidebar - my teamies create some awesome stuff!

A couple of bears and some kraft card!

 I've deliberated about whether to post this card, or not.....it was my second attempt with my polychromo pencils and I wasn't sure about it....but I actually quite like it now, so here it is!

The image is a LOTV Born to Shop and I love it!  She has had some gloss added to her sunglasses, but everything else is pencil, coloured on kraft card (ok, ok, I admit it....it was the inner of some wrapping paper!!). 

The papers have been printed from My Memories Suite: Checked Ruby and Lime.  I have a copy of the software to giveaway, if you are interested, click here. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Lili's Little Fairies - My Favourite Stamp (Born to shop or Teddy Flower)

Papertake Weekly - Buttons, Bows, Bling and Blooms (bling from the stickles in corner and around image and blooms)

Crafty Catz - Use Something New (pencils and paper)

 And another bear card, this time with Teddy Flower, again by LOTV and again, coloured with pencils and gloss.  You can see a line around the image from the oil for blending, but I think it's ok.  I followed Angela Wiseman's advice to do a light colour and blend, then do a second coat of the light colour and blend, before adding the additional shades.  The butterfly and flowers have been coloured with pencils on the card, then covered in glamour dust.

Sketch Saturday

Will I make it before the deadline?  Hope so.

This is Edwin and he was the first image coloured with my polychromo pencils.  His skin is coloured with promarkers as I don't have flesh coloured pencils yet, although I've since managed to get a combination of white, brown and red that turns out ok, like I used on Daisy.  There's gloss on the E and his boots but the photo hasn't picked it up......Will need to try and get better pic tomorrow, maybe.

Anyway, I used the Sketch Saturday sketch, which changes tomorrow, hence the rush to get this posted before it finishes!

I've used some scrap Basic Grey Oliver paper and buttons from stash.

Have a great weekend, peeps!

Daisy

Aaaah, my favourite Daisy......looking pretty and dreamy! 

I've coloured her with Polychromo pencils again - think I might be addicted!!  The papers are First Edition Summer Bloom and Dovecraft Sugar and Spice, which seem to work quite well together.  I originally had some bold stripes in the mix too, but it was far too much for my simplistic taste.  And the single blue flower was originally a collection of 3 little orange ones but they looked too much too......

So, I would like to enter the following challenges:

SugarBowl - sketch and birthday theme

Simon Says Stamp - Spots and/or Stripes

Moving Along with the Times - Spots and/or Stripes

Charisma Cardz - Happy Birthday

CES Challenge - Anything Goes

My Mum's Craft Shop - Girls

Anything Goes - Anything Goes

I've also got another few cards that I'd like to blog, but time is running away, so I'll leave it at this just now.

And remember that I have a copy of My Memory Suite to give away.  The link is here.

Let's HIt the Town

Let's Hit the Town is one of my favourite stamps!  I love her old fashioned, yet very modern dress and those shoes look amazing!

I have coloured her with Polychromo pencils.  She is the third image I've coloured with my new pencils:  it's much better than my first attempt, but I still need a LOT more practice!  But its fun learning through trial and error.  Think I need to have a browse at some online tutorials too. 

Anyway, I've followed the gorgeously simple sketch at the SugarBowl AND followed the theme of NO DESIGNER PAPERS - just some embossed swiss dots.  I've made the decorative corner by cutting a square in half and punching it with a small punch I've had for ages.  And I decided that the greeting needed a few doodled dots to tie it in with the image and paper.  Her shoes have had gloss and a tiny amount of Glamour Dust added too. 

I would like to enter the following challenges:

Sugar Bowl - sketch and no designer papers

Simon Says Stamp - New Something (pencils)

Crafts and Me - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday - What's New (pencils)

Fab 'n' Funky - Something New (pencils)

The Paper Shelter - Anything Goes

Dream Valley Challenge - Anything Goes

Its time for our very first Dream Valley Challenge of the year........and it's a super easy one: Anything Goes.  I've had limited craft time over the holiday period, but I have had time to make a new necklace and a few cards.  So, for our Anything Goes challenge I decided that I would show the necklace.  It is, as ever with me, very simple with just some chain, clear, black and grey beads and cute little silver spacers.

This challenge, we are sponsored by One Stop Card Crafts.  You should see the amazing creations my team mates have made - gorgeous!  And I am really looking forward to seeing what you create for us!

Happy crafting:0)

My Neglected Bumble Bee

My poor neglected little Bumble Bee......I don't know how it happened when she's so cute!!  She'd been neglected for months before I inked her, then she was coloured with Distress Inks and then neglected again for a few months before being made into card.  Criminal!

As you can see, the skirt could have done with being blended a bit more thoroughly but I really enjoyed colouring her and even chose orange, unusually.  She's had some glamour dust added to her wings and I resisted the temptation to add more to the hearts and flowers.

The papers are Dovecraft Sugar and Spice and an embossed panel of white paper.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Prairie Fairy Fridays - Things with Sparkly Wings

The Paper Shelter - Anything Goes

Stamps R Us - Anything Goes

Totally Gorjuss - Happy (orange HAS to be happy, and sparkle makes ME happy!)

Christmas Layouts and a Giveaway

I decided that I would try a few Christmas layouts while a) I could still find the photos easily and b) while Christmas wasn't yet a distant memory!  And these are the results.  

I used my copy of My Memories Suite and have had time to try a few different embellishments, some layering and different fonts!  It's getting alot quicker now.  All of these pages were created using templates and embellishments available on the standard copy of the software, no additional add-ons.

 And I have a copy of this software to giveaway to one of you lucky peeps!  All you need to do is

1) Go to the My Memories website and have a wee look through the digikits
2) Leave me a comment to let me know which is your favourite

I will draw a winner on Monday 30th January, so you have plenty of time to look and comment!

 (I previously, and very stupidly, tried this giveaway before Christmas....doh....what a stupid time to do it.....everyone was way too busy and there were no comments, but January should be much more successful!  If you would like to have a look at my other layouts using the software, and read a little more info, the link is here.)

Sugar Bowl Challenge 74

 

So, how are your Christmas preparations coming along?  Mine are reasonably on track, I think....but I DO keep adding 2 things for every 1 thing I take OFF my list!!

Last week, I was asked to make a 40th birthday card and I was given the theme of "wine, if possible".  At first I was stumped and thought I was just going to have to ignore the theme.  But then I started looking through all my stamps and decided Luv a Latte would be perfect, especially if I could give her a wine glass instead of her coffee.  

So, she has been coloured with Promarkers and Stickles (Stardust as her eyeshadow and Platinum for the bubbles and silver on the label and name). 

I have followed the Sugarbowl sketch and have even managed to follow the theme of "No shop bought Design Papers!  It's not often I manage THAT part!  I have used a Sizzix bubbly texture plate, Cuttlebug Starts folder and Crafts Too Flowers folder.  The edges of each piece of paper has been edged with a promarker and stickles and a few of the flowers have been coloured.

The glass and bottle are from the Pickles and Onion stamp set, which I hadn't yet gotten around to listing in the hope of selling..... it would appear that there was a very good reason for this....the glass and bottle are perfect for this girl, so I'll be keeping the set after all! 

So, I would like to enter the following challenges:

The SugarBowl - Sketch and theme

Passion for Promarkers - Celebrations (2nd entry)

And a reminder that I have a copy of My Memories Suite to give away.  The link is here.  

 Have a great week, everyone!

Dream Valley Challenge 22 - Christmas

 Wow, the last challenge of the year....how'd that happen?  I don't know where the year has flown to, but I've had a pretty good one, on the whole!  And I'm looking forward to a great 2012.

So, for the last Dream Valley challenge of the year, we have a nice easy one for you - Christmas!  I still have some Christmas orders and cards to make and I'm sure I'm not alone, so hope you can join us.

This is my card for my nephew, Jakob, who lives in Austria.  I have used Pip With Presents, coloured with Promarkers and Glamour dust on his hat.  The main paper is First Edition Christmas Joy, with some older paper used for matting.  I decided to make it look like a present with the ribbon and tag (cut with a Sizzix die).  

 And I would like to enter the following challenges:

Crafty Catz:  Anything Goes

Craft Your Passion:  Anything Goes with Glitter (on his hat and pompom and the paper)

Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Moving Along With the Times - Last Minute Christmas

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Passion for Promarkers - Celebrations

Sarah Hurley - Christmas

Stampin' For the Weekend - Christmas

Sugar Bowl Challenge 73

Apologies for the photo, but the light was terrible and I had to actually give the card to Lewis, one of my many boys' December birthdays!

I have used the fabulous Sugar Bowl sketch, and I have distressed my papers, which is VERY UNUSUAL for me!  I hate doing it to my lovely papers but it seemed to suit this little guy (image and receipient!). 

The image is Puppy Dog Tails, coloured with Promarkers.  It's funny, I actually only ordered this one when I wanted the Bambino image to get it over the minimum order, but I've used it loads! I LOVE the little frog!!

I would also like to enter Totally Papercrafts - Anything But Christmas.

My Memories Give-Away

When I was asked to host a give away by My Memories, initially, I was a little unsure, but I'm so glad I bit the bullet and went for it.  I've had great fun making some digital scrap pages, as you can see!

The My Memories Suite software is pretty easy to download and get the hang of.  I'm looking forward to having more time to play around with it all, as there are some pretty cool features, like creating slideshows, cards and adding sound!

The software comes with some templates, background papers and embellishments to get you started, which you can alter the colour/pattern/designs/etc.  You are able to add to these by purchasing other sets and templates in the My Memory Suite shop at very reasonable prices, although you even get a free $10 promo code to use on digikits after you have downloaded the program. 

If anyone would like to buy My Memory Suite, I have a unique coupon code that gives my followers $10 off the full price AND, when you purchase My Memories Suite you'll also get a $10 coupon code to buy anything in the My Memories store to get you started!

To purchase using the code, click on the image above, or go here, then copy and paste STMMMS63336 in the shopping cart page at the My Memories website for your $10 discount. 

Alternatively, you could have a try at winning it!  My Memories have very kindly offered me a copy of My Memories Suite to give away to one of my lovely followers.  All you have to do is:

1) Go to the My Memories website and have a wee look through the digikits
2) Leave me a comment to let me know what your favourite is

I'll pull the lucky name out of the hat (or a saucepan, or whatever!!) on 5th January - wouldn't that be a great start to your year?!  Go on.....have a peek......you know you want to!!