>>> Passion For Promarkers: Challenge 6 <<<

This week's colour challenge calls for Moss & Poppy + Something tasty! Just in luck that I received some new stamps today and I used them for this challenge:

Patterned papers by WRMK Urban Window and Basic Grey Lucky collections. Stamped images by Unity Retro BBQ stamp set and sentiment from Unity June 09 KOTM set. Made use of Cuttlebug swiss dot embossing folder.

TTFN!

>>> 365 Cards Day 121 & 122 <<<

Day 122 is 'It's A Wrap' and it calls for using wrapping paper on the card! Pam certainly comes up with very interesting challenges for making card! So a hunt in my craft room found this perfect wrapping paper! Would you believe it that it was a wrapper for a box of choccies! When I first saw it, I immediately thought it was perfect for crafting and hence, I unwrapped it very carefully and kept the wrapper. It certainly came in handy as I've used it in a LO and now a card. So here's my card with this delish wrapping paper:

Background stamp and sentiment from Unity June 09 KOTM set.

Forgot to add, the choccies were delish! Unfortunately it's all gone now! :)

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

Day 121 is 'Four Seasons' which calls for incoporating all four seasons on the card. Gulp! I don't exactly have stamps depicting the four seasons although I do have definitions of them. Hence, they were used and I used pictures to depict what each season represents:

Season definition stamps from Purple Onion Designs. Bee, ice cubes in glass, santa images & sentiment from Unity. Pumkin image from Little Yellow Bicycle Spooky range. Background rectangular image from Hero Arts.

Can't say I'm thrilled with the card but it's done! Not gonna go grey over it! TTFN!

>>> On Display: Cosmo Cricket! <<<

Have to admit, I'm a great fan of Cosmo Cricket papers. They are so easy to use, both for layouts and cards! I was fortunate that some of my DT kits have featured Cosmo Cricket papers and I certainly enjoyed using them. My biggest challenge has been using the spinners! I luv them but they can be a little tricky to use on pages but I think I managed them well.

Here are the layouts done using the papers:

LO created using Everafter and Girl Friday collections.

LO using Everafter collection.

LO using Lil' Man collection.

LO using Early Bird collection.

LO using Early Bird collection.

LO using Lil' Man collection.

LO using Mr Campy collection.

With the leftover scraps after I had done the layouts, these were put to good use and made into cards:

The above four were done using Early Bird collection.

Created using Mr Campy collection.

Created using Lil' Man collection.

TTFN!

>>> Passion For Promarkers: Challenge 5 <<<

Not long ago, I discovered Passion For Promarkers site and was delighted. I've been doing a lot of colouring using them especially on my cards and even on my layouts too! Hence, I was only too pleased to find there's a site dedicated to Promarker users. Not only do they hold challenges, but there are tips how to get the most of these markers.

Challenge 5 is to use colours Lemon and Meadow Green. Here's my take on it:

Patterned papers by Cosmo Cricket Early Bird collection. Stamped image by Unity June KOTM set. Chipboard was coloured using a Lemon Promarker and stamped using a script image from 7 Gypsies Nottinghill stamp set. Have to say, it's not easy to limit to just 2 colours.

Incidentally, this card was also done for another card challenge on 365 Cards Day 118. TTFN!

>>> 365 Cards Day 118,119 & 120 <<<

Sheesh, the last few days were busy times for me. I was involved in fund-raising activities in my sons' schools and was just too knackered to do anything at nite when I came home. The boys have another 3 more weeks of school before summer hols. Time is just passing by wayyy too quickly! Anyway, time to catch up on my cards.

Day 120 is 'Super Sketchy Sunday' and here's the sketch:Have to say, quite an unusual design and here's my take on it:

Patterned papers by Cosmo Cricket Mr Campy collection (leftovers from a LO that I did). Stamped image from Unity Aug 08 KOTM set and coloured using Promarkers.

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

Day 119 is 'Seeing A Silhouette' which calls for creating a silhouette on a card. Decided to try a technique that I've seen in a craft magazine and here's my take on it:

Patterned paper by Tapestry by CR Gibson, Lavender & Lace collection. Stamped images by Fontwerks Fresh Foilage I & II and Unity May 09 KOTM set (including the sentiment). Background sponged using Tim Holtz distressed inkpads in mustard seed, spiced marmalade & fired brick.

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

Day 118 is 'I've Been Framed' and the challenge is to create a frame on the card. Not difficult as I've got a fair number of chipboard frames dying to be used and here's what I did:

Patterned papers by Cosmo Cricket Early Bird collection. Stamped images by Unity and coloured using Promarkers. Inside the card reads 'I'm here for you'. Chipboard was coloured using a Lemon Promarker and stamped using a script image from 7 Gypsies Nottinghill stamp set. This card was also created for Passion For Promarkers Challenge 5.

With these cards, I've caught up with all the challenges so far! Yay! TTFN!

>>> Summer Fayre! <<<

So it was my eldest son's Summer Fayre at his school. I was helping out at the books and went in early to set it up. There were dark clouds about but it was decided it would be held outside regardless. 'Think positive' that was what I was telling everyone who looked up at the dark clouds! The clouds can stay there just as long no rain fell. And you know what? We had a fabulous day... not only it didn't rain, the sun even came out and halfway through, I had to apply sun block lotion and wear a hat! Yes, it was that hot! We had a good crowd and we had a strong man demonstration i.e. he pull a fire engine! My boys had a great time... spending money! I leave with some photos of the day!

Ollie was quick to spend his first pound at the sands... putting colourful sand into plastic bottles.
He was supposed to help me set up the book stall!

The li'l one managed to win himself this hammer!

Moi! Had to get my hat when the sun came out! The day started out cloudy.

At work, tidying the books. We didn't do too badly.

Ollie entertaining the crowd with his violin.

The strong man attempting to pull a fire engine! He did it!

TTFN!

>>> Sponsored Bounce! <<<

My youngest's school held a sponsored bounce today. I was there to help out early in the morning as an official photographer. My biggest mistake was to test the bouncing castle as it resulted in an arching back throughout the whole day. Didn't realised how a little bounce could have a major impact on my back. Pain was horrendous! Anyway, the kids had fun and one chap bounced 103 times in 1 minute! That was the record! My boy did 80. I leave with images of today's events!

Getting ready for action

Bouncing...

Finale...

TTFN!

>>> 365 Cards Day 117 <<<

Today's challenge is 'Simply Stamped'! The requirements:

One stamped image and one stamped sentiment - that's it. You can color in the image and use any color of card stock - no patterned paper and no other embellishments!

I enjoy stamping, my forte I think so I was happy about it until I read you couldn't add anything else! Gulp! Now that's gonna be real hard as I luv to layer and add stuff. Anyway, got round to doing it and here's my take!

Well, it's one stamped image (the tree) and one stamped sentiment on a white cardstock, coloured using Promarkers. I actually stamped the image twice, once on a card and the other on a white cardstock. That was coloured in using my Promarkers and the images were slowly and laboriously cut it and adhered to the card using foam dots. This card will form part of my Xmassy cards. Oh and stamped image and sentiment is from Unity June KOTM set.

Not normally a simple style cardmaker but I certainly enjoyed the outcome. TTFN!

>>> You Gotta Be Kidding Me! <<<

The drama so far... my youngest is supposed to swap his toy for another. I already told him to pick sensibly. So I picked him up from school in the afternoon and what greeted me was this large teddy bear!!! OMG, he swapped a medium size teddy for a large one! I just couldn't believe my eyes. His explaination... the kids were asked to pick their toy in alphabetical order, hence he was one of the last few to go up. So by the time he went to pick his toy, there wasn't much on the table.... a Barbie, a pink crocodile, the large teddy and some other. So he went for the large teddy! Well, he seemed happy with his 'new' toy so what more can I say!!! And darn... forgot to take photos of his old teddy ... would make a great scrapping topic! LOL!

My bro just this minute told me that Michael Jackson has passed away! (It's 12.35 am at the moment on Friday morning) OMG! I'm seriously shocked! He was due to give a series of concerts in the UK next month. Gosh, his fans will not only be bitterly disappointed but the fact that he's no longer around. His concert tickets sold out like hot cakes too! Will be interesting to see the reactions of his Brit fans when they find out! Just goes to show life is so transient... here today, gone tomorrow! TTFN!

>>> 365 Cards Day 115 & 116 <<<

Day 116 is 'Keep It To Yourself: Wedding Card'. The challenge is to creat a wedding card without any sentiment on the front. Had to have a good look through my stamps to see if I can find a suitable image. Thankfully I did!

Patterned paper by American Craft Craft Fair and Making Memories Love Notes collections. Stamps by Autumn Leaves Whimsical Frames (heart frame) and Label Tulip (couple). Embossed the inside of the heart using Cuttlebug embossing folder.


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

Day 115 is 'Piece It Together' which is to piece images together, either via digital image or die cuts. Did a very simple paper piercing card:

Patterned paper by Scarlet Lime exclusive paper found in their May 09 kit. It was a scrap piece, leftover from a LO so it was put to good use. Stamped images from Unity June KOTM set! Stamped the cherries on a piece of Daisy D's patterned paper and cut it out. It was adhered using foam dots.

Have a great day! TTFN!

>>> Green Day! <<<

So it's Green Day at my youngest's school tomorrow. He has to dress in green clothes and bring a toy to swap. Wearing green clothes, no problem. Finding a toy to bring... mega problem! Each toy I picked up was greeted with a 'noooo, I'm still playing with it', never mind that it has been untouched in the box for months! Eventually we or rather I managed to persuade them to forgo a teddy bear (the one that was won at a 'pick me up' machine).

Let's see what he will bring back tomorrow........ TTFN!

>>> 365 Cards Day 112, 113 & 114 <<<

Suffered a slight loss of crafting mojo the weekend. Had 2 new kits came on Saturday morning including my Unity KOTM June set yet neither provoked any crafting desire! So instead of forcing it, watched re-runs of Ghost Whisperer instead.... luv that show to bits!

Anyway, on Monday, made a tentative attempt to get back and started with a couple of challenges on 365 Cards.

Day 114 calls for 'Lovin Lavender' which asks for lavender to be the dominant colour on the card. Thought it would be easy but nooooo. I had to go thru' stacks of papers to find something lavender and you know what? Nada!!! I couldn't believe it! Eventually I did find something close to lavender... purple. That will do I guess.... so here's my take on it:

Patterned paper by Rusty Pickle Guenivere. Stamped images from the latest Unity June KOTM kit and coloured using Promarkers.

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

Day 113 is 'Super Sketchy Sunday' and here's the sketch:

Left me puzzling a little but eventually came up with this:

Patterned paper by Cosmo Cricket Early Bird. Stamped images by Unity June KOTM set and coloured using Promarkers. This is as close to the sketch that I can get!

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

Day 112 is 'Everlasting Love' and the challenge is to create a wedding card and use the word 'Love' in the Sentiment. Ok, I don't do lovey dovey kind of cards! Anyway, this is the best that I could come up with!

Patterned papers by Cosmo Cricket Early Bird collection (gosh, luv them to bits!) Again, stamped images by Unity June KOTM set. Don't exactly have love in the sentiment but it's there in the card!

Yay! Caught up with the challenges.... now to do Day 115 and spent the nite watching CSIs and Ghost Whisperer! Bliss! TTFN!

>>> Unity's Hip Hop Hangover! <<<

It's Friday and it's Hip Hop Hangover time again! I had fun doing it last week so am joining in again. Not long ago, I got the Everyday Adorable set. I luv the images on it and made a card:

Patterned paper by LilyBee French Couture collection. Coloured using Promarkers. Card was created using a sketch from Card Patterns.

I was recently asked to be a guest designer for a ribbon kit and one of my projects involved using a Unity Leave A Trail quote stamp. It certainly came in handy for the particular picture that I was using:

Re-cycled a corrugated cardboard that I found lying in my craft room. It was painted with Tim Holtz black soot crackled paint and heavily decorated with ribbons. Added a photo and a quote and made a hanging frame out of it. Here's a closer view of it:

Thank you for dropping by. Have a great day! TTFN!

>>> Not Friday Again! <<<

OMG! Time is simply zooming past so quickly. Looking at the calendar, there's only 4 wks and 3 days left of the school term. In some ways, I'm scared... scared that my boys are growing up too fast. I still remember my youngest starting reception not so long ago and this Sept, he will be in his final year at the Infant school. I really don't want him to grow up so quickly.

With the final few weeks, my calendar is filled with lots of the boys' activities... sponsored bounce, summer fayre, etc. all of which I'm heavily involved. But at the end is our summer hols which I'll be spending with my parents. Can't wait to see them!

As for TV programmes, a lot of my favs have ended such as Desperate Housewives, Dirty Sexy Money etc. Grey's Anatomy is about to finish as well. On the flip side, I will be able to catch the next series of CSI Miami ... hooray!

Guess I had better start working on teacher's gifts. Not gonna do anything stressful. Got a few calendar planners and will simply decorate them. Thankfully their 'thank you' cards have been done (thanks to all the card blogs that I've participated!) Yes... only 3 1/2 weeks before moi & the boys are jetting off to the Far East. So much to do and so little time left.... TTFN!

>>> 365 cards Day 111 & 2 Sketches 4 You Sketch 28 <<<

Did a card that combined 2 challenges.

Firstly at 365 Cards Day 111, the challenge is 'Say It With Strips' which is to to create a card with Bold Colors and Stripes.

Then at 2 Sketches 4 You, here's sketch 28:


Here's my take on the 2 challenges:

Patterned papers by Bo Bunny Back to Backs collection. Stamped image & sentiment by Unity and coloured using Promarkers.

As Father's Day is around the corner, had to make a card for FIL. Luv the TV image and very appropriate for FIL as he likes to watch TV! Thankfully the hub's card is already done! TTFN!

>>> Blog Award! <<<

The lovely Kristie from 365 Cards left me this blog award. Thanks! I met her via 365 Card blog challenges and she never fails to leave a smile on my face with her comments!

Here's the rules:

1. Add the award to your blog
2. Link to the person from whom you received this award
3. Nominate 7 more blogs
4. Leave a message on their blog letting them know they have received 'One Lovely Blog Award'

So without further ado, I'm passing this award to these people. Their blogs have in some way inspired me greatly:

Diana, Glenna, Amy, Shari, Mandy, Vickilyn & Hazel.

TTFN!

>>> 365 Cards Day 110 <<<

Today's is called 'My Guy' and the challenge is to 'Make a masculine card, and use an ARGYLE pattern'.

So here I am... busily hunting down an argyle patterned paper and viola, found one among my scraps. Not sure if it's classified as masculine but the image just might!

Patterned paper by Dream Street Papers Mairzy Doats collection. Stamped image and sentiment by Unity and coloured using Promarkers.

Incidentally, this card ties in with Unity Hip Hop challenge 'Bits & Pieces & Unity' at SCS. The challenge is to use leftover scraps and Unity stamp.

TTFN!

>>> 365 Cards Day 109 <<<

Today's challenge is 'Colour Scheme' and here's what on offer:

The colours: green, yellow, orange, brown, and aqua. Use these colors in your card....and make it a feminine card! Not sure if my card is considered feminine enough but the background sure is:

Patterned paper by SEI Dill Blossom . Stamped image and sentiment by Unity.

TTFN!

>>> 365 Cards Day 108 & Card Patterns Sketch 19 <<<

Did a card that covered 2 challenges.

At 365 Cards Day 107, the challenge is 'Oh Boy!' which calls for a birthday card for a boy.

At Card Patterns Sketch 19, here's the sketch for this week:

Here's my combined effort of the 2 challenges:

Patterned paper by Basic Grey Lime Rickey and Crate Paper Mia collections. Stamped images by Unity.

My son is turning 9 next month (sheesh, time flies) so I thought I make him a birthday card in advance. He luvs the beach and playing with the sand so I came up with this card. Sprinkled Tim Holtz distressed sticklers on the sand. TTFN!

>>> 365 Cards Day 107 & Mojo Monday Week 91 <<<

Due to lack of time, did a card that covered 2 challenges.

At 365 Cards Day 107, the challenge is 'So Girly!' which calls for a card that have the word 'Girl' somewhere on it and it must be a pretty girly card!

At Mojo Monday Week 91, here's the sketch for this week's long and thin card.

Here's my combined effort of the 2 challenges. After making sure I had the envelope for the long and thin card, here's my take:

Patterned paper by WRMK Tiffany collection (the entire paper collection is simply delish. I had use them for a Disney mini album). Used a Magnolia stamped image (not fetish over them, just got a couple as they are a delight to colour. I still prefer Unity stamps for their variety). Bingo image by Invoke Arts stamp (it was a leftover from another project).

TTFN!