'Thank you' challenge and June releases

Well hello there! Haven't we had such strange weather recently? My patio veg/salad/herbs don't quite know what's happening. We'd better get some decent sun before September or we'll be having green tomato chutney all winter again instead of luscious ripe red ones in our salad.

Anyway, this fortnight's challenge over at Bows and Berries is to say 'thank you'. I've gone for a tongue in cheek sentiment and image, but still to absolutely show my appreciation. This is for my Mum who came to stay with us for the first two days of potty training our daughter - the moral support was invaluable. Two weeks on and little one has gone from potty to "big toilet" as she calls it with ease. Thanks Mum, it's at unglamorous times that we need family the most xx.

Some readers will also recognise the sketch as it's the one Kathy set us over at CMLI on Saturday. She asked us to follow the sketch, have a monochrome colour scheme and with a twist of masculine. Well KK, I just bet you know the Meatloaf song.....2 out of three eh?!

The sketch (which I've unceremoniously flipped on its head)

I've used Sheep Doodles digi stamp from Bows and Berries and accented with watercolour paints. Die cut with a Nellie Snellen die and embossed with Swiss Dots. Ink used is Pretty Petunia versa magic chalk.

I shall also enter this into:
Forever Friends - spots, dots and an animal
Craft Your Days Away - monochrome
Just Some Lines - spotty dotty

Now onto the June releases for B&B. There are cute new collections for summer, fairies and school.



Have a good week!

Father's Day

I had a great time at the Stamp Magic show in Doncaster today and bought lots of lovely goodies. It was expertly organised by Paula and Gary at Which Craft? as always.

I bought these great paper border strips in a orange/brown/yellow autumnal pack but thought they'd go really well with kraft so I could use them for a Father's Day card. I was also really taken with the sketch at The Sweetest Thing today, hence this creation.

I've punched and embossed the kraft circle, used a run on sentiment then chalked the edges of that panel and layered the banner at the bottom. The buttons were also a purchase today.

The photo didn't quite turn out as we are very low on natural light now.

Christmas in the frame

Clean and simple seems to really appeal to lots of crafters at the moment. As someone who struggles with putting lots of 'stuff' on cards I have to say I'm one of them. But it really is a lot harder than it looks. The Less is More challenge has been a great help though with their wonderful ideas and amazing standard on entries....and this week's no exception.

It's a one layer only challenge - just fold the base, that's it - with a theme of 'in the frame'. I've used a Paula Pascual stamp set for the frame and added the '25' in the middle stamped in Versa magic chalk ink in Night Sky. The snowflakes are from the same set and embossed in opaque white.

Beware of the cat...it's not sleeping, just resting its eyes

Well, the week has whooshed past and it's sketch time again at CMLI. Lauren has set the challenge this week and asked us to LET THE IMAGE SHINE. Her creation was simply stunning and quite daunting to try and match up to!

I've taken this as bit of a kick to keep up the momentum (or gain some!) with my new Promarkers. Haven't been at them long as I mentioned in another post but I do feel like I am getting there now.

I've used a Basic Grey paper - Eskimo Kisses - edged in olive green, some Bazil and a Pepper and Friends image I receive from craft pal Bev in a swap a while ago.

Doesn't he look so comfortable relaxing in the summer sun?!

The sketch:







Also entering this into:
Totally papercrafts - summer
Shellys images - anything goes
Scrapbook sisters - English country garden

'Time' for a sketch!

This week Rosie set us a great challenge on CMLI. Along with the sketch there's a twist of "include a cardboard box". This was the perfect opportunity to also include my latest purchase - some kraft. Woo hoo!

Here's the sketch and my take on it.

I've used kraft for the card base, the reverse of a BoBunny (I think) Christmas paper, a digi stamp from Little Claire, then die cut some cardboard and added embellies from my stash. It's a birthday card for my father in law.

It would also have been perfect for the Bows and Berries fortnightly challenge - masculine!

Entering this into the following challenges:
Craft Us Crazy - masculine colours/theme
Kraft Journal - it's a guy thing (kraft Monday)
Critter Challenge - use kraft
Fab n Funky - magnificent men

Masculine Challenge

Morning all! Where is this year going....I can't believe we are nearly at Father's Day already.

This fortnight on the Bows and Berries challenge we have a masculine theme. This is great for me because as well as Father's Day my father in law has his birthday. I was inspired by little sweetie gift bags in the latest docrafts Creativity magazine for this project.

I have printed the Daddy's Tools digi with border and greeting straight onto card and then coloured and given a decorative edge and some stars. Mounted on a folded piece of craft and used to seal a polybag containing marshmallows and it's an instant gift.