Penguin Birthday

Hi Everyone, I had to make another birthday card, and used another digital stamp. I used papers from a pad I fancied, and layered them onto plain paper that matched. I then sent the image into Silhouette and print and cut it 3 times. Already having made the birthday wishes circle awhile ago, I then added the shape of the penguin with the balloons merging them, so the circle incorporated the shape of the balloons. Something like masking!

Anyway, the penguin was coloured with marker pens, I then coloured the wishes on the shape and added the penguin image to the layer. With my mind not on things, and mojo still absent, I'm happy to say it all came together quite quickly, surprisingly, and I like the nearly monochrome look too. 

digital stamp - Bugaboo Stamps, (sorely missed)

markers - Spectrum Noir 

Silhouette

wishes frame - my own 

papers - Craft Sensations, Watercolour Designs (The Range) 

100th Birthday Bash CCC

  Hi Everyone, my DT card today is for the -

 Critter Crazy 100th Birthday Bash 

 

A Rule change for our 100th Challenge

Your card MUST feature a Birthday Critter as the main focus 

Whether Furry, Feathered, Fantasy, Fairytale, 

Scaly, or Insect, there must be a Birthday critter.

 

And also don't forget to check in on the last day of the month again, if you are a winner or a DT-Favourite! #100's brag recognitions will have 2 extra winners! Read on for details: 

Since we have now reached the 100 challenge, we would like to thank all the participants and the followers from the bottom of our hearts for all the years, the inspirations and the kind comments. 

And 100 challenges must also be celebrated... so this month there are 3rd & 4th winners and a small rule change for the theme along with an opportunity for a prize winner visiting Becca's blog. (Use my blog link to get to my homepage and find my CCC post after 2am central time on July 1st for instructions on commenting and receiving a special prize package of animal-themed products!)

Special 3rd Winner: Entry #50 will be an extra Guest DT invite honoree in September 2025! Plus Special 4th Winner: Entry #100 will be an extra Guest DT invite honoree also for September 1st. There will be special badges available and these persons will be revealed on July 31, 2025. 

 

 

With no mojo, I was struggling to make a card, so I went through my digital stamps to see if anything jumped out to me, and this is it. I love this birthday sheep. I printed and cut, with Silhouette, 2 layers of the sheep and the sentiment, onto multi use card, then coloured it with DI's. 

I cut a piece of the same card to fit onto a 5x7inch base card, then blended the sky, and the grass, with DO's. Next, I used stencils for the grass and clouds. The clouds didn't work for me, but they are there, albeit faint, so I die cut some clouds and a sun. The sentiment was inked around the edge and then added to pink paper, can you guess this is for a female member of the family?

sheep - Bugaboo 2021, (sorely missed)

stencil, clouds and grass - Funky Fossil 

inks - Distress Inks

inks - Distress Oxide

dies - Magazine Freebies

Silhouette 

Bird Day - CCC

  Hi Everyone, my DT cards today is for -

Critter Crazy

 Anything Goes but they MUST feature a critter as the main focus 

Whether Furry, Feathered, Fantasy, Fairytale, 

Scaly, or Insect, there must be a critter.

 

I had a card to send to a lovely friend, and decided to make one very different to what I normally do. I found a sketch that helped in my decision. I haven't used a sketch for ages, although I changed it slightly.

Next I found my image and papers in my files. Then sent the image and added text for the sentiment, and a shadow for it, to Silhouette and print and cut 3 images, as well as the sentiment, image below. You may be able to see the red lines of the sentiment shadow on top, they were all then cut together.

I printed the papers from Photoshop, and the top layer, which included "It's your" leaving place to add the sentiment and bird. I cut them to size, then coloured my image with watercolour pencils. They were all then placed onto the white top layer, I had chosen a lovely linen lavender card, this was also placed on top, then the purple card was die cut and the image 3D'd into place on top of that.

 

image - from the sadly no more, Bugaboo

pencils - Nuvo Vibrant Watercolour Pencils

fonts - Ellenarelle's Path & Beverly Flower Demo

paper - Curio Pantry "Spring Garden Bundle" 2016

lavender card - Make and Create

 I then went back to Photoshop to design an insert. I used the same gingham paper, placed white rectangles on top and added the sentiment (from the web) and a bird on a branch, which I changed the colours of slightly, on the left side. It was printed and cut to size and placed inside the card. 

paper as before

bird image - Printable Cuttable Creatables

Triple B Challenge

 

Crafty Animals #86 

'puter troubles and a 5 year old card

 Hi Everyone. I've been missing in action, as I have had my 'puter not behaving itself. I haven't been able to see my files, they were all greyed out, unless I clicked on them. I couldn't do any searches, it made me feel I didn't want to be on it, I think it's the longest I have been off my 'puter for years. I did come on to see if I could repair it, I went online to see if there was anything I could do, but each time I saw something promising my 'puter looked the same as the example graphic.

Then on Monday, I came on to try again and went looking for more ideas, I came across something to tell me to go into the Control Panel, BUT! My Control panel was missing, so after a bit of playing around I found it and what I was looking for. I noticed one of the panels wasn't the same as the example graphic, so changed it, and lo and behold I was back and everything was doing what it was supposed to. What a relief. I don't change things here, so I don't know how it happened, unless a Windows update changed things, I'll never know!

 Anyhow, you aren't here to listen to my grumbles, but I had to explain my absence from your blogs. Luckily, my DT cards had been scheduled. 

Now onto my card, one of my Niece's granddaughter, has her 5th birthday coming up and this is what I did for her. I saw a card recently where an image was popped up from the card. I went into my Silhouette program and designed this shaped card around the digital image. I added a slight border to the card, so the image was framed. The sentiment was sized, and a shape designed to match the black border on the image. Both the image and sentiment were print and cut with 2 layers of each.

Next, I coloured the image face with DI's, but as I wanted brighter colours for the rest, I changed to markers. I then used a sparkle pen for the number and the sentiment letters. I decided to add a few crystal drops. All attached to the card and now ready to send with an insert, I forgot to take a piccie of. The finished card is 7 x 7inches.

image - Bugaboo

inks - Distress Ink, tattered rose, tea dye, aged mahogany

markers - Spectrum Noir

crystal drops - Nuvo Crystal Drops

font - Chocokings

 

 

showing the sparkle on the 5

Shaker card TMR

Hi Everyone, my DT card today is for  

 The Male Room

 

I haven't done a shaker card in I don't know when, I had a few ideas, but none came to fruition. Then going through some file images I found this one, that I had used in 2013! Looks like he stood the test of time! I decided a little more CAS for this. I die cut a frame, then die cut a sentiment, I cut 6 layers of the circle frame adding the acetate between the top circle and the next. Then added the sentiment die cut over them all. The sequins were placed in the circle and a white complete circle was added to keep them in place.

 

I took the image into Silhouette and cut 3 layers out of textured card, all glued together, with added 3D glaze for his eyes and the dots on his hat. They were all then attached to the main card. I have a few men boys in the family who this would be suitable for.

image - Bugaboo. (miss them)

coloured with Photoshop

oblong die - Card Making Magic

sentiment die - lost packaging, I've had it many years. Could be Tonic?

sequins - stash 

holographic card - B&M

Ant & apple CCC

Hi Everyone, I have 3 DT cards today, I hope you will be able to visit each of them, this is for -

Critter Crazy

 Anything Goes but they MUST feature a critter as the main focus 

Whether Furry, Feathered, Fantasy, Fairytale, 

Scaly, or Insect, there must be a critter...

I have gone back to one of my favourite digi designers, sadly no longer trading. However I have a large amount of their images to keep me going.  The one I'm using today made me smile, so I had to use him. I also have other ants in my files and the circle is from one of them, it was just a perfect match. I designed it all in my Silhouette program, I print and cut the ant circle and my adorable ant with his apple and the sentiment, I found on the web. I cut an extra layer of the Ant, so I could colour it. The printed layer was then die cut. 

 I coloured him with DI's, 3D attached him to the printed layer, the circle was attached as it was. Quite a simple card, but it makes me smile. I hope it will you too.

 

Ant - Bugaboo

ant circle - KAagard

inks - Distress Ink antique linen, candied apple, mowed lawn, forest moss,mustard seed,

grass stencil - Funky Fossil 

Silhouette Cameo 

 

Come and join us in the challenge, ATG, but, don't forget animals only.

 

75 years old, but whose counting?

Hi Everyone, my card today is for my "old" friend who is now 75, she is 6 months older than me and it's been a joke for the last nearly 60 years, so of course I HAD to remind her how old she is.

I had used this kind of sentiment before and I know it's used in blogland, so I just worked out how many days her 75 years would be. Then after I sent it, I was thinking about the numbers for some reason and realised I hadn't used the leap years, it should have been 27,393 - drat! Silly me! OH! Well, I hope she doesn't work it out and realise I made her younger. 😁 It's as I said "whose Counting".

I started with the die cut, not really sure what I was going to do, then coloured it in DOs, I layered it onto gold mirror card, after sizing it to fit an A5 card. I added a corner piece from the off cuts of the die and cut a piece of  gold card with a stamen die, it sort of looks like a flower?

I looked for a digital image, as I wanted something funny and chose this fun image.  I printed it out after adding the sentiment in Photoshop.  I coloured it in DI's the same colours as the leaf die cut.  Then die cut it and inked around the edges. I added a die cut sentiment in gold card. It gave her a laugh and no she didn't work out the days! Whew! 

leaves die - Tattered Lace

image - Bugaboo (I miss them)

fonts - Tox Typewriter, ArabBruD, Aescudos.

circle die - Tonic

inks - Distress Oxide & Distress Inks

sentiment die - Card Making Magic

 

Floral border

Hi Everyone, sorry to have been awol, but it was my birthday on Monday and from Sunday on it has been a little hectic. Anyone would think it was a special birthday! LOL. I also want to thank you all for the comments on my last card, it's been very well received and I am so grateful to you all.

Anyhow, my SiL has asked me to make a few cards for her, my BiL has dementia and she can't get out when we wants too. I have had some new Distress inks and I'm loving them, why has it taken me so long to join the party I wonder? I decided to look through my digital stamps, as I had done a couple of successful colouring on them. I found this image and decided to try a CAS card, hoping I could do quite a few the same for her and quickly. I printed, coloured them, added the pearls, die cut the layer and added it 3D'd to the card.

Here is the result.

flowers - Bugaboo

distress inks -

barn door, mustard seed,

peacock feathers, pine needles.

Also Spectrum Noir Markers

GB5, DR3, BT5

colouring pearls from stash

stitched rectangle die - Card Making Magic

https://scrapping4funchallenges.blogspot.com/2020/02/challenge-161-anything-goes.html

http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/march-anything-goes-challenge.html

Right the first time?

Hi Everyone, another card from last year, I can't believe how many I didn't blog. Anyhow, this was for my lovely SiL, we have a bit of fun between us about being perfect and being a Grammar School girl, (as she was,) so when I saw this image I just HAD to make this for her birthday. I used a childish font inside to emulate the original sentiment. I think it sorta matches.

CC First Time - Bugaboo Stamps

coloured in Photoshop CS6

papers - Pixelscrapper

insert caterpillar - Hugware

Getting old???????

Hi Everyone, my DT card today is for

http://ttcrd.blogspot.com/

Our Wonderful Sponsor is:

 Bugaboo  

who is offering a prize of Prize of a

 $12 Certificate

Everything That You Ever Wanted to Know About Bugaboo Stamps:

A Short Essay

As if raising five children in the frozen land of the North was not enough of a challenge, Jodie Mackrell decided to dip her cold little Canadian toes into the world of papercrafting by opening an online store full of her illustrations. That was seven years ago. Today Bugaboo Stamps is one of the leading companies in digital images, and we're still growing! From seriously snarky to sugary sweet to sublimely soulful all the way over to the other side of the super sexy spectrum, you're bound to find all that you need and more to create your paper projects. Jodie works very hard to provide New Releases and Freebies every week!

As my friends and family are in the senior age range, I thought a little bit of vintage and fun would be suitable.

I used - Stella belly button

papers - We are 3 

https://artisticinspirationschallenges.blogspot.com/2018/07/challenge-205.html

https://craftingfromtheheartchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2018/07/challenge-217.html

http://pammiesinkypinkieschallenges.blogspot.com/2018/07/pip-challenge-1830.html

http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2018/07/challenge-86.html

Christmas Wishes

Hello Everyone, after a brief? spell of inaction on my blog, I felt it time to send you all a message. I hope to see you on your blogs soon. -
Look out for the snowball!

Thank you to Bugaboo and The Urban Fairy for their images 

to help me make this for you.

CRS??????

Hi Everyone, after my late posts this month I think this card is VERY pertinent and as my SiL knows me so well, I decided to use it for her birthday, Yep! I remembered that, whew! If I carry on like this I will be very worried about me!

image - Bugaboo Stamps

coloured in PS

leaves dp - Printable Cuttable Creatables

background dp & stitching - Just so Scrappy

leaf die - Crafters Companion laid onto vellum and coloured from the back

butterfly die - Tonic

all layered onto bronze metallic paper

insert sentiment left - Bugaboo

right sentiment - my own

celebrate image Bugaboo

Chocolate Heaven

Hi Everyone, I had a birthday card to make for one of my nieces, she like the rest of the family is a chocoholic, so what better than send her a card with chocolate on it? I designed the card in PS with DP's and printed it all out, then 3D'd the main image. I love the images outside and inside. Just 3 layers and easier to post!

Inside

Digi stamps Bugaboo

Chocolate DP's Gina Jane

Heart / dot background paper Pixelberrypie

http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/challenge  Anything Goes. - Yep!

http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/oldie-but-goodie-thursday_8.html  Oldie favourite - Yep!

BRIGHT!!!!

Hi Everyone, today I have what you may call a Bright card LOL. My Brother in law is 82 this week and I decided to use Gus with his sentiment, from Bugaboo, why? because he looks like BiL hahahahaha. Told you I am wicked! I know he will appreciate it though. I wanted something different and again going through my digi papers came across these, Oh! YES! it even came with the left inside sentiment what more could I want, mmmmm perhaps a little embossing? and some black card for layering! I designed it all in PS, printed it all out and here he is  -

The inside

The digi paper is from O.M.G digi kit by Digilicious Design.

Embossing folder is Hessian by Crafters Companion

DSC # 132

It's time for a new challenge at

 Digitally Sweet Challenges

the Theme is 

Anything Goes but NOT a card or layout.

sponsored by  Bugaboo Digi Stamps

You know I like to do digital first for DSC, after all it is a Digital Challenge blog. However I wanted to do a door hanger for my son and didn't have a digi layout to be able to post it. 

Let me tell you the story of the hanger first - our adult son, as most of you will know, now lives with us after becoming ill. We of course knock before entering his room, one day he said "if you have a cuppa Mum, you don't need to knock!" So that's why I made this as a bit of fun, with the perfect image of the teabag from Bugaboo. Son did have a laugh at this and displays it on his door!

The perfect image for this was of course Bugaboo's "Spoon". The paper is digital and I had the pattern tutorial from here.

 I placed both DP on half vertically of the A4 size layout and added the image and sentiment "block! underneath one of the papers. Only 1 page printed, no waste paper! I printed it out border-less on 170gr paper and added it to brown 250gr card, this made it quite substantial (for the use of it bashing up against the door frame each time the door is opened LOL.) I added a brown circle around the circle shape. The pocket is for mail, OK! so I have to fold the letters LOL.

The DP is from a combo kit "Flyawaywithme" at Sweet Shoppe Designs

http://creativecornerchallenges.blogspot.de/2015/03/team-jess-for-boy-challenge.html

http://www.southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/boys-boys-boys.html

DSC # 125

It's time for a new challenge at

 Digitally Sweet Challenges

the Theme is 

Anything Goes

sponsored by  Bugaboo Digi Stamps

PS Layout

Printed and layered with 3D gloss added to glass and buttons

The image I chose is Glass of Wine, which, includes the brilliant sentiment, it's great isn't it? 

I coloured the image in PS and added a PS glass filter to the glass, I love this effect and have used it for windows and of course a glass and a bottle.

The card is for one of my niece's whose birthday is in a couple of weeks time, she likes a glass of wine, so this should suit quite well.  LOL. The colour combo was the hardest to choose, so I looked through DP's that I hadn't used and found this kit. Quite a different colour combo ay? for me anyhow.

Digital image is by Bugaboo

All DP's and elements are from the "She Creates" digi kit by Dawn by Designs

The following comments were made before I realised that my scheduled post was posted 30th December instead of 30th January, so apologies to Bonnie and Shirley and Loli, however I have copied them here with thanks for their comments. That'll teach me for being so far ahead, but I couldn't wait to use this fab image.

Bonnie has left a new comment on your post "DSC # 125":
Now, that's my idea of a good glass of wine! Such a fun card, Faith! Happy New Year!

 Shirley has left a new comment on your post "DSC # 125": 

Love this design Faith and what a great sentiment. No doubt we shall be partaking of a glass or two tonight. Wishing you a very happy and creative New Year xx 

• Loli

ola Faith, thank you for yours comments and for your support this year. I´m glad because you read my posts ;D, and i´m glad if your´re thinking about my words about Jesus i´m happy to share with you. Fantatic your card, you´re the DIGIQUEEN my friend!!!fantastic work, perfect the effect on the glass!!! and the sentiment :D :D :D :D, funny, funny. A BIG and warm hug from my heart to you. Blessings in this year for you and your family and have a nice happy new year. on DSC # 125

DSC # 110 Your Hero

It's time for a new challenge at

 Digitally Sweet Challenges

the Theme is 

Your Hero

sponsored by  Bugaboo Digi Stamps

My Hero, of course it is my Mum, a stylish, elegant, lovely lady who worked hard throughout her life, she was still working in her early 70's.  A fit, beautiful woman, who lived through hardship and still maintained her lovely smile.  

Due to what I call negligence, after a knee replacement, she had to have an amputation above the knee when she was 83.  The hours after the operation, one of my brother's and I entered her room imagining she would be very ill, in fact we didn't think she would survive the operation, but, we should have known better, with the temerity of this remarkable woman, she asked us "What have I missed today?".

Within 24 hours she was travelling around the ward in a wheelchair and never looked back.  She didn't take to a prosthetic limb so lived the next 8 years doing everything in her "little flat" (as she called it) in her wheelchair, on her own. She had carers come in, but they only went there for a chat as she had already done what they were supposed to do.  I was working full time and did what I could but, she insisted that I had enough to do than look after her!  She loved going out in the car each Sunday when she would tell hubby - "follow your nose" when asked where she would like to go. It didn't matter where, she just loved the countryside and the sea.

There is one story I have to recount, which I think shows how she loved to be centre of attention too.

 When she was 89, she told everyone she was 90 - just in case she didn't reach 90!  as she wanted to have a celebration, she certainly did, with at least a hundred cards, she was thrilled and couldn't stop smiling. One of her friends said to me "she doesn't look 90 does she?" I had to agree, what else could I do?  I didn't lie though, as she certainly didn't look 90! We, the family, had to laugh though.  

When her real 90th birthday came around, my youngest brother planned her 90th birthday celebration, which took place at the Celtic Manor Hotel in Newport, (NATO have been there recently) he arranged surprises all night, with over 100 family and friends invited from all over the UK and family from the USA, a Welsh Male Voice Choir from her home village singing for her, amongst other things, and fireworks  to finish the most memorable evening.  The evening is still talked about within the extended and close family.

She saw her 90th birthday and her 91st.  The Minister at her funeral also regaled the story of her twice over 90th birthday, which had people nodding and smiling in recognition, this was my MUM.

After sending the layout to the family, one of her granddaughters sent this reply which I thought I had to add.
"I miss her so desperately, and as I get older I miss her even more !  She was such a "Force" in my life, and maybe, some of her style did rub off on me ! haha
One thing Nana did,  which we all took for granted, was that she loved her children and family so much, it was at an exclusion of everybody else, we WERE HER LIFE !  A very selfless act, that we all took for granted, as she was always there for us, and especially for me!"

DSC # 107 Musical

It's time for a new challenge at

 Digitally Sweet Challenges

the Theme is 

Musical

sponsored by  Bugaboo Digi Stamps

I was looking for idea on "Musical" and saw this show, (now on in London) which made me choose the DT image this week from Bugaboo. Let me tell you a story, then perhaps you will understand how this card came about.

Essex 1968. Like millions of other working women, each morning Rita O'Grady is just trying to get her husband out of bed, get the kids off to school and get to work at the factory on time. But life is about to change forever when it’s announced that the girls in the sewing room of Ford’s Dagenham UK. car plant will have their pay grade dropped to ‘unskilled’. 

Quickly drawing on a strength she never knew she had, Rita leads her friends in a battle against the might of Ford and the corruption of the Union supposed to protect them. As the girls’ inspiring journey gets bigger than anyone could have imagined, the pressure is too much for some, but can Rita keep up the fight and the happy home she’s worked so hard for? 

This verbatim account is from here HERE

This is the musical show I am depicting here today in my card. I can remember this story from the time it happened.  What a woman! (I hope you don't think I am being political about this, but it just shows how inspiring ordinary women can be)  

Image Bugaboo - JJ Sewing Needles

The DP & swirls - The Kit Cart Designs

Music background - free vintage digi sheet music.

Son's birthday card

Hi Everyone, hope you are all OK. this Sunday morning.

Today's card is for my son, who will be 38 tomorrow, although to mention age is an anathema to him, so what do I do - of course - mention his age - frequently! I'm a bad Mum. LOL.

I was wondering what to do for him this year, when I had a follower new stamps email and what was it? but "Video Game Guy" just perfect for a chap who spends most of his time on the computer, whether gaming - more than a lot! watching catch up television, researching, reading etc etc. (He has agoraphobia with a few other problems,) As he tells me his computer is his window to the world.

I paper pieced the chair and the guy's top with the DP's and coloured the image in PS, added a texture DP to the floor area and coloured the "wall" area to match the DP's.  Printed it all out and layered the DP's and 3D'd the Guy and the television/monitor.  Added buttons, which now look black instead of the dark blue I thought they were, blast it!  That'll teach me to make something late in the evening, with just a small light on.  I don't think he would notice. Although he does make comments on cards I make, 99% are very positive I'm glad to say.

The image is Bugaboo
The DP's are by Memory Clips from a digi kit Old Sport.
Sentiment is from Create with TLC.

Challenges

http://cardsgalorechallenges.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/anything-goes-with-dis-digis.html  Anything Goes

http://flatfriendschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/challenge-23-say-it-with-quote-x.html  Say it with a quote

http://memascrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/august-2014-anything-goes.html  Anything Goes

http://thesistersofcraft.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/sisters-of-craft-august-anything-goes.html  Anything Goes