So I thought I'd round off the month with a little favourites post. Probably to sum up the products I've used the most this month. Stuffs I love.. stuffs I don't love so much (which is hardly gonna be the case..) and share my opinions with you guys. :)

First up, you should already KNOW it's gonna be SU! In Colour 2010-2012 cardstock which I've been using for many of my cardbases as well as accent pieces and the like. I've been steering away from Kraft lately, not because I'm not still madly in love.. just because.. having a bright coloured card base seems to make those summer/ brighter projects POP more. KWIM?

What else do we have? Ohh!! How could I forget?

Lawn Fawn - Harold's ABC's. I've used these babies on almost EVERY card I've made which required a custom sentiment. Damn they're cute. So easy to use and so.. did I say they were cute? They're so cute! I know over the past month I've shared projects which I made a while back, before my little Lawn Fawn set came on the scene.. but trust me - you'll be seeing waaaay more of this set on up and coming projects here at Cartolinas! :) Hope you don't get sick of me, or them!

I've been gravitating towards a few patterned paper pads over this past month, with a couple being My Minds Eye. So let's begin with some Lost and Found - Blush. I know it's an old collection, but I just love it. The mix of pinks and very light blues is just delicious. I love it so much infact, that I made a whole album with the damn thing! ;) Photos to follow in the coming weeks.

 

I'm also in love with My Minds Eye - On The Bright Side Two. The most perfect thing for summer, and for those tricky male cards too. Perfect combo, don'tcha think? LOVE all of the woodgrains. Earthyness. Love. :)

 

Enough of the paper now, it's making me want to order more. Because I'm greedy like that. I have an addiction to paper which I openly admit too.. so instead I'm gonna share some of my favourite.. RIBBON!!

From the ONE & ONLY The Ribbon Girl. Let's see..

15mm Aqua Satin Ribbon

 

10mm Tiny Aqua Pom Pom

 

9mm Brown/White Spot Organza

 

Mmm, brown and blue. My favourite. You gotta check out their shop it's growing all the time. Truth is, I could list the whole lot and it'd be my fave. 9 times outta 10, the ribbon and fibres and twine you see on my cards is from these two lovely ladies. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

So last, but not least.. THESE TWO companies.

TIDDLY INKS

SOME ODD GIRL

No explaination needed!!

That's all from me. Enjoy browsing the links - I hope I've stimulated your crafting needs! LOL.

Hey, everyone! I can only apologise for the SUPER lateness of this post. I'll explain why I've been all to pot these past few days at the end of this post. So keep your eyes peeled. Also, for those of you who have been lovely enough to leave me comments on my nonexistent Glisten Bean post.. see HERE for those projects.

*********************************************************

Well...after a LOT of awesome previews this past week, the day is finally here!  Our JULY RELEASES are now available at The Greeting Farm!

It's quite the cuteness-packed release this month two with SIX new stamp, including Do-Si-Do ANYA, a new take on our "TGF Mascot", Shiny and Glisten Beans, Blush Bettie, our Thank You background, and the new Oliver/Amelia "Lovey Dovey".   Do you have a FAVORITE?   I know, it's hard to choose, right? I know I couldn't pick a favourite!!

Well, not only does our BRAND NEW Premiere Team have MORE inspiration for you today, but we have a BLOG HOP going on ALL DAY today and ONE LUCKY WINNER will take home the ENTIRE release! YES! That's 5 single stamps, plus a 4x6 set, just for visiting us and taking in all the fun ideas along the way!

*********************************************************

Here is my project using the gorgeous Blush Bettie and Thank You background. I couldn't resist colouring her up once again! She's such a sweetie. I'm hoping this project is enough to make up for my lateness and lack of projects! I promise I'll be a LOT better next release. *pinky promise*

So for this card I've gone for a mad.. slightly weird.. colour combo. I was WAY out of my comfort zone with this one. At first I was gonna go with green, blue and yellow.. matching some papers from My Minds Eye - On The Brightside One collection. I wasn't feeling it. Then I added the orange and boom - LOVE IT!!

I stamped and embossed the card base and added a heap load of embellishments ontop of my patterned paper base. How delicious is that navy chevron?! Delicious!! Some Ribbon Girl ribbon.. Wild Orchid Craft flowers.. a mini clothes peg and some punched butteflies completed this card. As if that wasn't enough I added a 'sprinkle' of Stickles and liquid pearls. Summery? Yet not overly summery? Hell, let's face it.. Britian hasn't had much of a summer.. and it doesn't really look like it's set to improve.

*********************************************************

Ok...let's get started!   If you are just getting here, be sure to visit:

Jessica

Jen

Rachel

Anita

Lou Mac

TGF BLOG
 

Be sure to leave a comment on each stop and also on the TGF BLOG letting us know you've completed the hop...you never know...you just might see your name listed tomorrow for ONE GREAT PRIZE!   Last but not least, tune in tomorrow on the TGF BLOG, not just for the winner, but to meet our EIGHT new Showcase DT members and another familiar face returning as another important "farm hand" around here.    You didn't think the excitement was OVER, did ya?

Thanks for stopping by!

*********************************************************

So.. wanna know what the hold up's been? Let me show ya.

 

Ahhh. Just a few flooding issues. Honestly. :/

I've never seen anything like it in my life, and I've lived in the same area for 21 years! My entire life!! Total faliure of our 'storm drains' - we've had a totally wet summer to start with.. then when I think it might have been a months worth of rain fell in just over two hours - there was hell on. Literally. The shop I work in got totally flooded.. the staff spent the majority of Friday clearing up - what a nightmare!!

On the way home from work on Thursday night.. which was when these photos were taken.. my and my friend had to abandon my car before I totally wrecked it.. and walk home. I am beyond pleased that this is all over, and I really hope the Local Authorities heed this as a warning of summers to come. It ain't gonna get any better, let me tell ya.

The type of storm we experienced over that very short period, was something called a Supercell Storm.. which generally only happen over areas of the US. Madness I tell ya!

*********************************************************

So that's it from me. Hopefully I'll be caught up SOON!! I hope the weather has been a little better where you are!!

xo

It's only FRIDAY! Have you guys laid eyes on the fab new SUMMER Wryn's Christy has rustled up for us over the past couple weeks?! NO?! Head over to the Tiddly Inks Store NOW and check. them. OUT!

Another thing.. did you SEE the BRAND NEW Wryn that was released on Tuesday?! NO?! Where the hell have you guys been.. head over to the Tiddly Inks Blog now and CHECK. THEM. OUT.

So.. as I've already said.. and incase you guys weren't already aware.. IT'S FRIDAY. So.. for my Fabulous Friday card today, I've used.. Wryn - Summertime Sweets alongside the Sweet Sentiments. I had to, didn't I?! A bright, summery card to cheer up Britain's miserable weather.

How, freakin' CUTE?! If you wanna see more of this sweet little lady, check out THIS post from last week!! Now that's enough links for ya for one post.. so onto the EYE CANDY!

I've coloured this cutie using my go-to medium, PMs and FMs, and paper pieced the top layer of her dress. I've added a little scene around her by adding blades of grass and ickle flowers, and stencilling some clouds. I've added a bunch of embellishments from The Ribbon Girl and Wild Orchid Crafts, as well as a home made rolled rose layered on top of a Prima paper flower. :)

Head over to the Tiddly Inks Challenge Blog for the some more awesauce Fabulous Friday-ness from my TI Teamies!!

I'd like to enter this card into these challenges:

Deep Ocean Challenge - Welcome Summer

Party Time Tuesday's - Anything Goes

The Ribbon Carousel - Paper Piecing

Crafting When We Can - Summer Fun

Corrosive Challenges - Summer Girls

I did have this post scheduled for Thursday.. like all my other posts that have managed to go live these past couple days. But because this post was important.. it didn't work. Typical Blogger, huh?
So as a little add on to this post.. goes an apology. Sorry to all the TGF fans who visited my blog to leave a comment on my Glisten Bean post, which was nowhere to be seen. HERE IT IS now.. I don't think the phrase "better late than never" is suitable for this occasion!! LOL.

Today there is a BRAND NEW sister to accompany the adorable Shiny Bean who is also being released on 01/07 .. meet..

Ahhh!! Look at that hair! I know girls who'd DIE to have a fringe (or bangs, as you call them in the US) that thick!! I know I would! <3 I've decided to make a card and a tag using Glisten Bean today.

Here is a soft looking project, using Isabelle papers from First Edition.. and some yummy organza ribbon. Pinks and soft greens and yummyness. I've coloured Glisten Bean with dark brown hair to make her pop off the card and stamped the rest of the image in Pretty in Pink ink from SU!


This card is more bold and bright, and summery! :) Know what? I'm just getting into the swing of these summer projects, but it's very nearly July and that means it's very nearly C-mas time. I ain't even gonna say the word. You all know which C-mas I mean! LOL!!

So for this card I used some scraps of paper from My Minds Eye Mabel collection. I love the bright oranges and the happy patterns. I've coloured her perfect hair using my ProMarkers and FlexMarkers. Some Grey Green, Soft Green and Mint Green.


How's about that then?! You guys found another favourite?! LOL!!

So pleased you could stop by tonight - once again I can only apologise for my lateness!!

xo

Morning fellow colour-ees!! How's your week shaping up?! Guess what!! I was back at work yesterday.. and the sun was shining. All day long. While I was stuck at work. All day long. Typical. Today is my day off this week though, so I plan on using it wisely. Catching up with you guys, over on FB and with my emails. I think I have all of my DT work under control and all orders finished up and posted. Notice how I said *think* that means I'll probably remember some important deadline or something.. *touch wood* I'm top of stuffs though! :)

So.. guess what Tuesday brings over at Cartolinas?! Not only some Tiddly Inks goodness which you can scroll down to see.. but also a new challenge over at Passion for ProMarkers!! Yeahhh!! This week we want to see..

Icecream or Cupcakes!

Up for grabs is a £10 gift certificate for the lucky winner to spend over at Joanna Sheen!!

I won't lie, this was a super hard decision for me to make! LOL. I love them both.. but the cupcakes won out. I pulled out my Baker Mae stamp from Some Odd Girl and decided to make a SMASH* page.. about.. CAKE!!

Pretty self explanatory. "Did someone say cake?!" LOL! :) I looooove cake. The photos are just a few from various trips to different pubs and restaurants. I ALWAYS look at the pudding menu first. Yum.

I've used various embellishments. A homemade doodad, a gorgeous chunky button from Durham market, a doodlebug button and some brads, some die cuts, punches and some twine. I dabbed a few blobs of Willow ink from Adirondack.

I've recently printed a load of photos off, so I'm gonna get prepped to do some more SMASH*ing. I know it's sad.. but I love the feel of my book as it gets fuller and fuller. Flicking through the pages whilst the binding makes that squeeky sound. I just LOVE.

So.. head over to the Passion for ProMarkers Blog now and see what my teamies have come up with.. and whether they've chosen ice-cream or cupcakes.

I'd like to enter this page into these challenges:

Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Pile it On - Make your own Embellishments

Homemade doodad - to the right of the bottom picture

Let's Ink It Up - Favourite Embellishments

Thanks for stopping by. 

Ahhh, Friday. Love that word. Rolls of the tongue, doesn't it? :) It does. Thank goodness it's Friday. Friday. Can you TELL I'm excited? :) I just LOVE the weekends!

Incase you missed out on the action over here yesterday, check THIS post to see some awesome new The Greeting Farm goodness! ;) You don't wanna miss it. Oh, and while you're at it.. check out The Greeting Farm Blog too, for DAY TWO of previews!

So, do YOU believe in fairies?! I sure do. :) HA. I wish they were real. It'd be like a whole magical little world. */cough* Regardless of whether they're real or not, they're sure real enough over at Some Odd Girl. Have you SEEN the fairy digis? I'm in LOVE! I say that every time I use a SOG image though, I know.

So, you guys know about the up and coming FB fun day, right? Well in the run up to all of that excitment, plus the brand new digi release on Monday 25th.. the oddies have set a WEEK LONG challenge for us all to join in with..

 

"Non Traditional Hair Challenge"

So. I went with green. LOL!! I was gonna pick pink.. or blue.. none traditional hair colours I've already tried in the past. Why do that when you can try something NEW?! :) I used Mint Green, Soft Green, Grey Green and Emerald for you PM Junkies who're wondering.

How beautiful is Dandelion Fairy?! VERY!! I haven't used the whole image, I've cut her out using the second largest standard circle nestie. A pretty CAS card for me.. I wanted all eyes on this cutie. I've used some papers from My Minds Eye and coloured the image to match.

The 'Believe' sentiment is from Nouveau Girls - Believe. Stamped in Rose Red from SU! I used CC Designs mushroom? toadstool? die and cut some vellum. I've adhered it using some Doodlebug brads and that was job DONE. I'm not mad on the placement of those brads now, but I had to choose places where the vellum wouldn't rip. Gahh. Never mind! :)

So I'm entering this into the Facebook Fun Day Challenge. :)

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your Friday! :)

Good MORNING peoples!! Now EXCITED does not even BEGIN to cover the feeling I'm feeling right now. I've typed this post up 1000 times over, so it's all ready and waiting and PERFECT for this AWESAUCE day we're gonna be having. Let me tell ya what I'm waffling on about..

So the title of the post might have given it away, just one tiny little bit *big grin*.. have you guessed yet?! YEAH BABY!! I'm gonna be a Premiere Farmer for The Greeting Farm. I've known for like.. what? TWO MONTHS!! Just the fact that I've been able to keep it to myself is a miracle!! Never the less. Last minute Lucy hasn't failed to be extremely last minute.. which is why you might only spot one project on this post before I get it updated. 

I'm useless. I know. Here's hoping the one card I did actually make on time (even that was a little late..) will win you're hearts. Let me introduce you to..

Blush Bettie and Thank You Background

Is she not the cutest thing you've ever SEEN? You know what I especially love about this image? How the folds in her dress make it super easy to get a neat contrast between the light and the dark areas. You'll know what I mean when you go to colour her up in the very near future! *wink, wink*

I've coloured her using my ProMarkers and FlexMarkers to match my papers from My Minds Eye. I then went ahead and stamped her onto a post it to make a mask. Laying the mask on top of my image I stamped the Thank You background on top of her to create a subtle effect. The 'Oh Hello' on the orange banner is part of the Blush Bettie set and is the perfect sentiment for multiple occasions. 

I've then embellished with some Wild Orchid Craft and Ribbon Girl goodness as well as a few buttons from Durham Market and some mint green liquid pearls which I could just EAT, they're so shiny!!

You guys know what you've gotta do now, don'tcha?! Head over to The Greeting Farm Blog NOW and see who else is gonna be a Premiere Farmer this term as well as their drool worthy creations! Be sure to stop by there during the week, as there's gonna be more new eye candy and other surprises in store!!

Thanks for stopping by today - and I promise I'll be back with my other card ASAP!!

**UPDATED to add my second card**

So next up is a more sepia, paper pieced looking Blush Bettie.
I can only apologise for my poor photos, the weather has been c-r-a-p here in England lately. Typical British summer, huh?

I've coloured all of her skin and hair using a combo of March Hare, Tan, Nutmeg, Cinnamon and Cocoa. I dunno, she looks kinda grubby in this picture. Gahhh. I've paper pieced Betties dress and socks and added some shading with my ProMarkers to help the papers blend into the image a little better. I've stamped the sentiment from the set onto a little scrap of vellum, punched it using an SU! punch and tucked it behind that gorgeous pink daisy paper.


I'm not usually a one for pink, you regulars already know that.. but do you know something? I'm totally feeling this card. Perhaps.. eventually.. I'm overcoming my fear?! LOL!! It always helps to have delicious papers and embellishments on hand though, huh?

So, that's it from me for DAY ONE. Remember there are gonna be previews and sneaks and brand new farmers and all sorts of fun and goodness right the way thought til July 1st when this release is launched for you lucky peoples to buy!! Stop by The Greeting Farm Blog regularly!!

So I had a blast yesterday. I got all Tiddly and Inky! ;) I sat colouring and cutting and colouring some more. Raiding my drawers for embellishments and punches and glitter stuffs and such! Today, I can show you one of the cards I made using a new-ish image from Tiddly Inks. I'm sure you've all seen her before! ;) I'll apologise now for the gloomy photos - it was pretty glum by the time I got round to taking photos yesterday evening.

So this is Wryn - Beach Babe in her little bathing costume and beach bag. Adorable and perfect with a capital 'P' for summer! I've coloured her using my beloved PMs and FMs and fussy cut her out! Now when you read the title of this post.. I betcha thought it was gonna be a pink and green combo - like usual. Well NO!! It's pink and PURPLE this time round guys! 

Watch THIS! Haha. Surpriseeee! ;)

A lot of pink. I know. I friggin' excelled myself!! LMAO!!

So head over to the Tiddly Inks CHALLENGE BLOG now and see what the girlies created for ya in all of their pink glory!

I'd like to enter this card into these challenges:

The Sketchy Challenges - Lizzies Sketch

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Girls, Girls, Girls

Always Crafting - Summer

Love to Create - Summertime Fun

Use your Stuff - Make it by Hand

I hope my rolled flower counts! :)

Sentimental Sundays - Summer FUN

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your Tuesday, whatever it brings! :)

I didn't want to take anything away from the dramatic flowers, so I decided to create my sentiment on a vellum overlay. I used another Hero Arts stamp for the Happy Birthday - stamped in Staz-On ink. I then pieced 'Great Grandma' together using some black alpha stickers from Cosmo Cricket. To ground the vellum on the card I wrapped some red bakers twine around the right hand side.

Job done!!

Thank you for stopping by today and reading through my excited waffle! I'm sure you'll hear much more about Neo in the days to come! LOL. :)

Here I am to show you another commissioned card I whipped up rather quickly for a friend. It's her Dad's 50th this weekend, and he loves Star Trek, so putting this card together was easy peasy..

Just as soon as I found a relevant Star Trek 'picture' as it were!! I decided to use the Star Trek colours, with the mustard yellow, red and turquoise-y blue. Here's me thinking I don't like Star Trek - I seem to know a bit about it though! LOL!!

So here's what I came up with. I found the b+w Star Trek image on Google, I've probably crossed all sorts of lines and committed a million violations by using it on my card, but I did try my best to find Copyright info so I could link.. there was none to be had.

 So I printed that off onto Neenah cardstock and distressed the edges using my TH tool. I then layed some vellum over the top to take away from the harsh black. I kinda like how it turned out. All of the base layers have been adhered at jaunty angles. The main area of the card has all been pieced together on top a PTI die cut which I have stamped with Real Red ink from SU! I used another PTI stamp for the 'Happy Birthday' and cut the '50' and 'DAD' using my MM Slice. :) The stars have been cut and punched from the same Lime Twist paper as the letters. To finish, I added a few red rhinestones in strategic places to keep my vellum in place. :) 

I'd like to enter this card into these challenges:

Dream Valley Challenge - For that Special Guy 

Simply Create Too - Father's Day or For a Male 

Charisma Cardz - Male Cards

While I'm here, just this one time. Thought I'd share a stoopid picture with you all!! Messing about with my new photo editing software seeing as Picasa and all of it's other components have been given the cold shoulder from me. Big style! Hope you likey.

Guess what? It's time for a new challenge over at Designed to Color!! You heard right!! 

First up though, you gotsta go find out if you were the winner from our first challenge. If so, you're the lucky winner of THREE Saturated Canary digis!! Run!!

We've got another sketch challenge for ya this month, and incase you weren't already aware.. our challenges will run from the 15th til the 14th of the next month. Plenty of time for you to get your amazing colouring projects in to us! :)

So.. you wanna see the sketch? Course.

 

I decided to create a SMASH* page using this neat sketch. I've kept the layout to the upper left portion of my page, it's pretty easy to spot. 

I've coloured Shy Mae from Some Odd Girl with ProMarkers and FlexMarkers in bright, happy colours.

Skin - Blush, Soft Peach, Rose Peach, Baby Pink, Lavender

Eyes - Leaf Green, Forest Green

Hair - Light Fawn, March Hare, Tan, Cinnamon

Eyelids & Shoes - Powder Blue, Cadet Blue, China Blue

Top - Amber, Pumpkin, Ginger, Spice

Skirt -  Meadow Green, Leaf Green, Apple.

I created some grass beneath her feet and added the more subtle blue glow around her. She's too sweet!!

Head over to the Designed to Color Blog NOW and see what other awesauce projects the contributors have whipped up to inspire ya! 

Morning Tiddly Inkers! :) Glad you could stop by today. I've a special card to share with you that I made for my boss at work. It was her 1st Anniversary at the end of last month, so a card was in order for her and her husband! :) 

Here's what I came up with using You and Me. I've coloured the cute couple using ProMarkers and FlexMarkers and cut the image panel out leaving a lot of room for some off the edge stamping using some 7Gypsies clear stamps and Memento Ink in London Fog.

I've added a sentiment from Papertrey Ink an created a little banner, some trim from The Ribbon Girl and a few Wild Orchid Craft flowers. That's about all me thinks! :)

Head over to the Tiddly Inks Challenge blog NOW to see what the amazing DT have created to blow your socks off!!

Evening! :) I'm here to share another card I was asked to make by my boss at work. It was her 1st wedding anniversary at the end of last month, so she was after a special card to give her husband. Here is what I came up with. 

I've used a few papers from Bo Bunny - Gabrielle collection. Only got a few scraps of that yummity left!! Boohooo - but I feel so proud that I've actually tried to use stuff up! I've used a PTI die to cut a mat to lay all of my embellishment on top. I've embossed it using a Sizzix EF and inked the edges.

Hmm.. what else? The sentiment has been pieced together using.. you guessed it.. Harolds ABC's from Lawn Fawn stamped in Soft Suede ink from SU! I've punched a little flag end and adhered it to the card using dimensionals over a few circles I punched from the polka dot paper. I then punched some hearts using an SU! punch from Pool Party cardstock (*heart*), again from SU!, which I've also used to mat my patterned paper before adhering everything to the Naturals Ivory cardbase.

I've used some blue deliciousness from The Ribbon Girl, in the form of some ric rac and crochet lace. Added a few spots of liquid pearls here and there.. and that's about it! :) 

Thank you for stopping by tonight. Be sure to stop back tomorrow for my Fabulous Friday - which was my card to the same happy couple! :)

So, I love The Greeting Farm. Perhaps a little more than is natural. Sorry. :) I also love to get MORE out of my stamps and digis, in the sense of.. using them for MULTIPLE occasions!! Now you've seen me use this oh so adorable, Oh Boy! Ian SO many times on birthday cards. So many times in fact, that his packaging is now destroyed.. So I thought I'd re purpose him this one time to create a Father's Day card, before placing him, oh so delicately, back into his ruffled up plastic packet. :) Let's see.

I've used the same papers I used on my SOG Father's Day card on Monday which you can see HERE.. My Minds Eye - On the Bright Side TWO. Such fun, summery, bright colours. They don't automatically scream 'BOY' - but I likes them. Especially all of the delicious woodgrains, one of which you can see on my little bunting shape! :) 

I've paper pieced Ian's shirt and pants - I've shaded both of the pieces using Warm Grey 2-4 and my blender just so they fit in with the rest of the card. I totally want a shirt like his! Love that colour.

I've backed my design onto some Cajun Craze cardstock from SU! - where has this colour been all my life?! I sure hope SU! still carry it, as it was my one and only sheet from only goodness knows where and I need more MORE! I then layered the whole design onto some Naturals Ivory cardstock, again from SU!

I followed a sketch from a newish blog I stumbled across at the weekend.. A Die for a Sketch. Very cute blog design and the DT have really inspired me! I really loved the look of this sketch, I even made a note of it in my notebook. For use at a later date! ;)

I've used an ooold SU! wheel which has gone unloved for so long along the sides of my Cajun Craze cardstock. I've also used a combo of Whimsy goodness in the form of a ticket stamp and die and a stamp.. stamp. You're the best! Love it! :) Hmmm.. a bunch of die cutting, distressing, embossing.. washi tape.. fibres and ribbons. Would you consider that mini ric rac a fibre or a ribbon? orrr.. what?!

Some Doodlebug goodness in the form of some brads. Check out that fluffy orange brad? Gahhh!! That little fella makes me ridiculously happy. Oh, and before I get any questions about it!! That cent strip of paper is from an ooooold Sassafras collection. I just spotted it when I was sorted through my 12x12 box and thought it would be the perfect strip to finish this sketch off! :)

Sooo.. I'd like to enter this card into a few challenges:
- A Die for a ASketch - Challenge #1

- Celebrate the Occasion - Father's Day
- Clear It Out - Father's Day/Male Card
Use up stash - brads or eyelets

Thank you ever so much for stopping by today! Love.

Yoohoo there, Happy Tuesday!! Here to share my Passion for ProMarkers card this morning - thank you for stopping by. :) This is a pretty special card right here, in the sense that it's HUGE. Well, not huge to you seasoned card makers, but for a girl who sticks to 4.25x5.5" cards like.. religiously.. this was HARD. You know what? I had a blast making it, and once I got over the huge space I had to cover.. I couldn't stop. :)

Okay, nothing like making a mountain out of molehill now, is there? This is only 5.75x5.75", LOL!! Relax.

This week over at Passion for ProMarkers, Denise wants to see..

Lots of Layers

Very fun! :) Do you know the best thing about this type of challenge? It makes you step up your card, and that means.. using up scraps. For me anyway. :) All of those little bits you would probably just chuck away.. you find yourself picking up and experimenting with different shapes and positions on your card to try and make it look better.. and more layered. Yum.

 Oh, and our sponsor this week is DigiStamp Boutique who are offering up 6 digi images to the winner! ;)

Here's my take on this using the ever so cute Rosie with Cake from Lili of the Valley. I'm afraid I didn't write down the colours I used this time round - my head wasn't concentrating! Sorry. :( 

I've die cut the image using a Labels Eighteen and inked the edges using Victorian Velvet DI - I've then added doodles to my die cut and the edges of my card and patterned paper using a Regal Rose SU! marker. My most fave thing. Ever. I just think it ties everything together - and it's kinda OCD on my part. HA!

I've used some delicious papers from My Minds Eye Follow Your Heart - Be Happy collection. I could just buy up the WHOLE lot from My Minds Eye. Every collection they release just rocks my socks. Unfortunately my bank balance, nor my room would appriciate it! Anyway.. A pink, grey and subtle lemon colour is the combo here. I've created a gorgeous double bow with some pink twill stripe ribbon from The Ribbon Girl using my bow-easy and tied a little natural bakers twine around the knot to secure my little bear charm.

Arguably there are NINE layers on this card. See them all? I've used my little Slice to create the scalloped hearts and the '1' - using the scraps I was talking about earlier. See. :) Anyway, you guys can see everything that's going on, right? Click on the picture to make it larger. If you've got any questions just leave me a comment and I'll do my best to get back to ya! :)

I'd like to enter this card into these challenges:

- Robyn's Fetish - Add some Lace

- Let's Ink it Up - Your Favourite Embellishments
LOADS - Wild Orchid Craft flowers, twill stripe ribbon, Doodlebug brads, liquid pearls

- Pixie Dust Studios - Patterned Papers
- Paper Crafting Journey - Colour it Up
-Sassy Studio Designs - "Add a Splash"
I've used a bunch of Stickles and liquid pearls
- Really Reasonable Ribbon - Flowers and Ribbon
- Pretty Little Ribbon Shop - Lots of Layers

Head over to the Passion for ProMarkers Blog NOW and join in!! See how many layers the other awesome ladies have squeezed into their creations! 

Morning peoples! :) Thank you for stopping by this morning, I've got the first of my Father's Day cards to share with you. I think it's fair to say I had a total Some Odd Girl weekend, and I loved every minute of it! So there are no surprises for guessing this card is gonna feature some Some Odd Girl goodness! :)

So I was doing a spot of commenting and stuffs late Saturday evening and stumbled across the latest Sketch Saturday sketch, this one jumped out at me straight away, so I made a note of it and fancied using it on this card! So here it is..

Some of you might be thinking.. Lou.. that's a stamp from the freakin' Valentines release. Well, you're not wrong.. but tell me this doesn't work?! What boy doesn't love his dad?! Huh? Exactly! A DAD banner is perfect for Father's Day! 

So I coloured Lovey Tobie using ProMarkers and FlexMarkers. I then paper pieced his heart banner using papers from My Minds Eye - On the Bright Side TWO patterned paper, which I've also used on the rest of the card. I then added some Sassafras letter stickers to spell out Dad. They were originally a hemp kinda colour, so I went over them with my Meadow Green PM to help tie them into the rest of the card.

So I kept this card pretty clean, not too busy with regards to design or paper and the only embellishment being the three Doodlebug brads along the edge of the image panel. I've added some doodles with a Tangerine Tango marker from SU! and a sentiment I pieced together using Harold's ABC's from Lawn Fawn.

I've really been tryna improve my SOG colouring over the past few weeks with regards to.. like.. uhhh.. I'm no good with arty farty words.. but tryna make their faces look three dimensional. Not flat. You know. Adding some depth? to those big beautiful eyes of theirs. Some shadows under their chins and stuff. So, if I may.. I'd like to show you two more images I've been working on. Don't laugh. :/

 Ignore the middle image. That was a jumping off point. I'd love to hear your thoughts on these, and any ways you think I could improve. I made a card using Baker Mae for a card swap early last week and I tried out a different skin combo - I swapped out Rose Peach for Coral and she looked grubby - so I'ma have to work at switching up the colours for different looks. You'll see that card later on, if I even remembered to take a photo..

So. After all of that. I digress. 

I'd like to enter this Father's Day card into these challenges:

- Sketch Saturday - #211
- One Stitch at a Time - The Man in your Life

- Platypus Creek Digitals - One for the Boys

- Scrappy Frogs - Celebrate Men

- Sentimental Sundays - For a Special Guy

- The Crafty Pad - Let's Hear it for the Boys

So that's all from me for another day of June. Take it easy, and stop by tomorrow for another Passion for ProMarkers challenge!!

Following on from the stoopid blog title from yesterday. I thought this title seemed rather fitting, considering I ain't a great lover of purple.. or CAS.. bearing all of that in mind I did manage to pull this card off quite nicely. 

This is another commmission of mine from a while ago that I just forgot to share. I'm such a bad blogger sometimes. Not this month though! :)

So this is a little Stampin' Up, Hero Arts and Lawn Fawn creation. I've used Naturals Ivory cardstock for my cardbase and sentiment strip and some delicious (yip, I kinda like this purple..) Perfect Plum. I've stamped and embossed a gorgeous flower wreath from Hero Arts and gone over the petals with my little Versafine marker.

I've added some.. what do you call them? Dew drops? Which I was gifted from a friend to the centre of the flowers on the wreath. 

The sentiment has been created using Harolds ABC's from Lawn Fawn, stamped in Rich Razzleberry ink, which matches my ribbon from The Ribbon Girl pretty well! :) I've also added a little WOC 15mm rose and a pearl brad to complete the look.

Hope you like this card! Have a nice relaxing Sunday. :)

:) It's the WEEEKEEEND!! YEAHH!! By the time this post goes live.. I'll probably be.. driving back from my boyfriends and planning on getting my ass back to bed for a few more hours at least. I can see myself turning night into day over the weekend getting commissions and DT work finished up for the next few days. Just how I like to roll. Best stop by somewhere and get some coffee soonish!

Wanna know a PLUS?! Mother Goose is away down south for a Hot Rod show. You're probably thinking.. well what does that mean?! Ohhh!! I won't have her trumpeting around the house at 9 o'clock in the morning like a pet elephant tryna wake me up accidentally on purpose. Hell no!! It'll just me be and my little cat Shadow all weekend long. Bliss.

So onto what you've actually clicked onto me for. My card! :) This was made for a girl I know so much about but haven't really spoken to properly before. She's a sister of a friend of mine who I work with. Guess what?! She's GINGER!! You guys probably know my obsession with red hair and stuffs.. well.. THIS was the PERFECT opportunity to colour me up some ginger prettiness. So I did. I chose Book and Bedhead from Saturated Canary.  I've coloured her with PMs and FMs and left the image panel pretty big. I done this in order to add more interest to the card without adding bulk. This card was originally going to be posted - so I had to keep it as flat as I could. Low and behold.. it was eventually hand delivered, so I coulda layered it up Lou Mac style. Never mind, huh.