Peachy Keen Challenge #22

Hya ladies. It's time for another fabulous Peachy Keen challenge.
I decided to give my Copics a rest for this card and used Crayola pencils and Sansador instead.
(I'd practically forgotten how to as it's been so long since I used them).
The colours are  lot richer than I can reproduce with my camera. It just WON'T show true colours. Arghh!!
Oh well, moan over, onwards and upwards as they say.
This week's challenge is a sketch. (I LOVE sketches).

How great is THAT! Wonderful stuff!

Here's what I did with it.......

I just got my latest order fromSU so used some of the fabulous DP for this card.
Don't you just LOVE that stamp! It's PK-402 Mistletoe Twist.
(It's actually a Christmas stamp, but I didn't ink his hand with the mistletoe in it and now it's a cute Valentine's card).
I used white peel-offs for the message. I can't remember the last time I used a peel-off!
It's actually two put together. Don't tell anyone.
The ribbon is SU and the flowers are from Papermania.
The 'leaves' are made with a McGill punch called 'Pine'.

Now you've seen the sketch and my sample, why not pop on over to the Peachy Keen blog and take a look at the amazing samples made by the other fabulous DT members.
While you're there, you can get all the details for joining in with our challenges and news of the wonderful prize Peachy Keen has to offer the lucky winner.

Thanks for calling by, I appreciate it so much.
Viv xxx

I made more!!!

 Do you remember the purse and little cards I made here?
Well I made 6 more for my friends at a SU party hosted at Pauline's house on Sunday.
(I shall make more for my friends that couldn't make it).
There was an extra person, Liz, a lovely lady who's also a  Derby Dabbler. I didn't know she would be there, so made her a set during the day. Silly me didn't take a picture of it though, so can't show you that one and it was gorgeous! Slapped wrist for me.
Pauline is fabulous, but her hubby Rob, is a diamond. He's SO sociable and the best maker of a cuppa I've come across. He kept us topped up with tea and coffee the whole day.
We made two lovely cards thanks to Tracey our gud bud and SU demo.
(which are still in my tote bag so can't show you yet doh)!
I CAN show you the purses I made though and there's five so you might want to pull up a pew LOL

 

  

  

 

(Pam gave me strict instructions that she was having the Peachy Keen one, or there would have been 7).

I had a great time making them and I am on the hunt for more projects now.

Thanks for taking the time to visit.
Viv xxx

Cards For Men Challenge #3

It's time for another Cards For Men challenge already! Where DOES the time go!
Th challenges are now every two weeks instead of monthly which is wonderful.
Cards For Men's third challenge is a sketch. I love sketches.
Half the work is done for you when you don't have to think about a layout.

Here's the sketch (there is an optional theme of  Love/Valentine).

 And here's my card.......

The image is coloured with Copics and is a SU stamp from the set 'For Father', using MME DP and Nestie circles to frame the image. I added three brads for balance.
Sponged with Tim Holtz distress inks.'Tea Dye'.

Most men don't do 'lovely dovey' cards, so I came up with this sentiment and thought it would fit most men's idea of a love or valentine card . You know I'm right! LOL

Here are the guidelines
1. The card must be for a man/boy.
2. You need to follow the theme/sketch that is set.
3. It must be a new card.
You are free to combine challenges with other blogs.
The challenge will close on the 14th February 2010 at midnight GMT.  

The challenge is sponsored by Donna's Den and Donna has donated this fabulous prize....
It is a 'No Scissors Required Die Cut Decoupage' book, which contains 8 sheets of die-cut decoupage, 3 sheets of pop-out captions and 8 sheets of craft board.

 The other DT girls have come up trumps with the challenge.
Please pop on over to the Cards For Men blog to see their fab samples and to have a bash at the challenge.
We have now got the Mr. Linky gadget up and running now, making it a lot easier to post your entries.

Have fun and good luck!
Thanks for calling by
Viv xxx

Peachy Keen Challenge # 21

 Hi everyone. I've been a really bad blogger again. I've not posted anything on here for a whole week!
I have been busy and pre-occupied since I was last on, but hopefully, I am getting back on track. I thought I was last week, but everything I tried, didn't look right, wouldn't work or I was interrupted with stuff needing doing concerning mum's affairs or visits from family and taking hubby to all his GP appointments. (He had loads this week)! January is usually quiet and boring!!!
Hopefully, from now on, I can now spend some quality time with my favourite past time and what a way to start as I mean to go on...the latest Peachy Keen challenge! Whoo Hoo!
This week's challenge is to use something 'vintage' on your card or project.
Here's all the details......

• Project can be in any format (with the exception of digital art, hybrid projects are totally ok!)
• Must contain a vintage item or be inspired by something vintage. 
• The vintage item(s) can be a postcard, old love letter, an old button, an aged photo – whatever peaks your interest!
• Must contain at least one stamped image

Here is my card........




I used MME DP adhered across the lower half of my Bazzil base card. (It reminds me of vintage wallpaper).
As usual, I can't get the flippin' colours true to life. It's a lot more vibrant IRL.
I thought the image, PK-240, 'Say It With Flowers' was ideal for this challenge.
I used the little stamp in the set as a background pattern and glittered the centres of all the flowers with Glamour Dust, including the flowers in the bouquet.
(Although it's a contemporary stamp, it lends itself beautifully to the more vintage kind of card too).
I framed the image with a strip of lace before placing it on a Nestability oval frame.
I wanted it to have the look of a cameo. Did I succeed? Let me know.
I placed a metal flower brad/charm on the bow of the satin ribbon to look like a brooch.

I hope you like my card, but I know you're going to LOVE what the other awesome DT members have in store for you.  Pop on over to the Peachy Keen blog and take a peek at their fabulous work?
Why not take the challenge while you're there. You would be in with a chance of winning a fantastic prize.

It's lovely to 'see' again.
Thanks for calling by
Viv xxx

Blog Candy alert!

 Want a chance to win a Martha Stewart Punch Around The Page set?
Well then, get on over to ABC Toys and Crafts for details on how to get yourself a set.
I'd love this particular one. There are THREE up for grabs.

I desperately want the MS Eyelet lace punch, but can't get one ANYWHERE!! ARGHH!...so I've just GOT to try for this set haven't I?

 You've got to be in to win it, so I'm in it! LOL
Thanks for calling by
Viv xxx

Peachy Keen Challenge #20 and it's a project!

This week's challenge over at Peachy Keen is to make a purse or a tote.
It must have a 'winter' theme, (that can include Valentine's) and have a stamped image. EASY!!
Well guess wot! It wasn't easy for me. I'm a died in the wool card maker not a paper engineer....or so I thought!
I looked all over the web for a template and I finally came across this bag on Becky Robert's blog.
How gorgeous is THAT! Thank you Becky!
(The measurements are in the wrong order I discovered when my first one didn't work out.) Swap the 51/2" and the 6" round and Bob's your uncle!
It was onwards and upwards from then on.......

. I was SO pleased with my little purse, I made those four little 3" x 3" Christmas cards to match. All the stamped images are from various Peachy Keen sets. LOVE 'em!
Here's a closer view of the purse......

The outside of the purse is made from the SU Top Note die, but I reckon most Nestability labels dies would work just as well.  I used Bazzil base card and a sheet of paper from the totally megatastic MME pad, 'Wonderful Winter'.
(The pad was part of a Christmas gift from a dear and kind friend). Just the ticket to get me playing again!

I am going to make a lot more of these and try some other 'paper engineering' projects too, now I've got one under my belt.
Pop on over to the Peachy Keen blog for the details and to have a look at the stunning samples from the other 'TOTE'ally talented DT girls. You will NOT be disappointed and as usual, Kathy and Angelica will have a smashing prize on offer for one lucky winner! If you want to be in with a chance of winning, please have your entry in by 25th January.

Thanks for stopping by and for being so patient over the last few weeks.
(I will try to visit you more often now).
 Viv xx

New Baby

Thankfully, I got the urge to make a card yesterday evening! I thought I'd lost the plot with card-making after losing Mum, but I'm pleased to report, I just might have found it again!

I got this gorgeous WOJ image from my lovely and oh so talented friend Barbara, 'Hunnybunny' a few weeks ago, but events stopped me using her until now. (She would've been Ideal for when Alfie came along on my birthday).
I used an old SCS sketch..SC68.

I only used one colour oc Copic for this image, BV02. The base card is white linen and the frame is Nestabilities Labels 4. Apart from the pearls, which a slightly more on the pink side, all the colours are the same believe it or not! It's my stupid camera!! It seems incapable of getting true colours. The background paper and the ribbon are identical lavender colours but will my camera pick it up? NO! It turns the ribbon blue no matter WHAT setting I put it on. I've adjusted the settings in Windows to try and get it looking the right colours, but it's not quite right, even now.
I get so annoyed when I can't get true colours. Anyone got any suggestions?
Well, I think I'll get back to playing while I'm in the swing of it. 

Thanks for calling by
Viv xxx

A New Year..... a new challenge.... at Cards For Men!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope it will be one of peace and happiness for all of you.
Today, I have for you a new challenge to start the 'new' year off. The clue is in the 'new'.
Yes, the challenge over on Cards For Men is 'NEW'. It can mean anything. You interpret 'New'.

I decided on 'New Job'...........

I've been racking my one brain cell for days trying to get the idea into shape.
I have millions of PC Hug Club images that have gathered dust since discovering stamping and colouring.
So, I decided to dust them off and use them. This one is from the Honeyville set. I wish I could take credit for the colouring, but alas no, it's already coloured, all I had to do was print it out. 
I printed it onto an A5 card, then folded it to make an A6 card, (10.5cm x 15cm) (4"x6").
I printed it twice. Once with the image and once with the sentiment. I adhered one inside the other after cutting around the image. I then sponged all round the cards in Adirondack Latte ink.
The polka dots were produced using my Peachy Keen background stamp, PK-100, Large Polka Dots, inked with the Latte ink.

I hope it's given you one or two ideas. Pop on over to the Cards For Men Blog to get all the details and see what the other amazing DT members have in store for you.
You won't be disappointed. There's a super prize to be won too!

Thanks for stopping by.
Viv xx

It's Peachy Keen challenge #19

Hi everyone! I said I'd be back and here I am, with Peachy Keen's challenge #19.
It was hard getting back into it, but I finally managed a passable sample.
I needed the prod, as I'd lost the will to do any crafting.
It was good to be able to sit at my table and 'play' again.

The challenge this time, is a sketch...............

Here is my take on it...............

 This view shows you the border a little better.

The base CS is from the Forever Friends A4 pad, 'gift wrapped'.
I cut strips of it and adhered them to the front of the card.
I added some sage green ribbon to break up the red and pick up the green in the strawberries' leaves, (coloured with Copics). My gorgeous silver pearls were added to lift the ribbon.
The strawberries are part of one of my favourite PK sets...PK-239 'Faceless Fruit'.

 Pop on over to the Peachy Keen blog to see what you can win for playing along with us.
While you're there, have a look at the gorgeous cards created by the uber talented DT, which I'm so proud to be a part of.

It's good to be back! Thanks for calling by and for your love and support.

Viv xxx

 

In the words of Arnie...I'll be back' ......soon! 

Thank you all for your love and support over the past few weeks.

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!!!

Viv xxx