Snowdrift

Finally managed to get a card made for Fab's Big Christmas Card Challenge week#21 " Diagonal cut"and "Modern look". The challenge also suggests using Poinsetta flowers but I haven't got any so I just used the other 2 suggestions. Hope you don't mind Fabs?

Must be the change in temperature that helped me concentrate on Xmas again!! The house I stamped with the pressie I got from Roberta at Prairie Fairy last month, been dying to use it, and I think it works really well as a house at chritmastime. The acrylic stamp set is called "Around the Block" from Close to my Heart.

The tree is an Anna Griffin embi I've had for ages and refused to use, but I figured I owed Fab something special for missing the last few challenges;)

Love as always Gina x x x

Cowgirl Sunday Challenge #3

Howdy Folks! (sorry love saying that, my dad is a huge cowboy fan). This time over at Cowgirls Sunday Stampen Challenge Blog we have been asked to use a recipe 1,2,3 to make our cards;

1 image

2 design papers

3 embellishments

My image is "Jessica" from Cowgirls Digital Stampen Ranch, and I think she is the cutest little fairy ever! I added gold foiling after colouring her with copics, to give a gentle shimmer to her wings and clothing.

The design papers I have used are from K&Co Roam collection

Only using 3 embellishments was hard!!! I cheated a bit and counted the leafy di cuts as 1, and butterfly with tag as 1. The flower I made myself using the background design paper.

Hope you can join us for this challenge, we love the amazing creations you have been sharing with us.

Love as always Gina x x x

Fairy Inspired Sketchers Birthday

This card is for Saturday Sketchers Challenge #105 and Birthday Celebration, and the colour combi is inspired by Prairie Fairy Fun Fridays Challenge.week#21
I used my Nellie's Oval Frame di's and my cuttlebug to cut the lacey oval mat and the central image. The image is Tabitha Twitchet cleaning her children, which I stamped with my Crafter's Companion Beatrix Potter Collection stamps. The leafy border is made with a fiskars punch.
And a quick reminder that a new challenge is due to start tomorrow over at Cowgirls Sunday Stampen Challenge. Thank you to everyone who entered last time, your cards were all amazing!! Hope to see you there for the next one!
Love as always Gina x x x

Cards for McKenzie

While trawling the net today I visited Dustin Pike's blog, and found he was asking for help with a suprise for a friend of his daughter. She is an 18 year old dancer who has just been diagnosed with MS. He would like to present her with a box full of best wishes and kind thoughts(not get well cards) to show how much she is loved. If you'd like to help, pop over to Dustins blog and find out more details.
This is the card I am sending him. The backing paper is from Dovecraft called "Wild Blossom" by Kate Knight, and the image is called "Mackizne" by CJ at Cowgirls Digital Stampen Ranch. As the young lady in question is called McKenzie, I couldn't really use any other image!
Spreding the love as always Gina x x x

Second post for challenges

This card is for 2 challenges. I know it's a bit over the top, but it's the last challenge at Flutter by Wednesday til 7th July so I thought I'd make it a good one! I've really enjoyed their challenges and will miss them while they're away.
I've combined it with Pollycraft Mondays#45 "Buttons and Butterflies", and the image I've used is "Jessica" a pretty little faery from Cowgirl Up Digital Stamp'en Ranch
hope you like it, love as always Gina x x x
Just got a "heads up" from Lorraine about the Sir Stampalot Monthly Challenge, which is for "Blossoms and Butterflies" so I'm going to enter this card there as well, and you might want to check out the awesome Tim Holtz prize they've got this month!!

Happy Birthday Stef!!!

"Happy birthday too you, happy birthday too you, happy birthday dear Ste ef, Happy Birthday tooooo Yoooouuu!!

This card is for Stef aka Glitterbabe, and nothing or no one else. This is us "doin' the happy dance"!

Loads of love, hugs and kisses. Wishing you a lovely day!

Love as always Gina x x x

Challenge entry and Blog Hop reminder

You know how we crafters buy things, then get excited about something else and forget the stuff we just bought? Well thats what happened with this paper kit. It was a box set of card layouts, the ones that are already sorted into mini card kits. I bought it for the Pink scrapbook that came with it and never looked at the papers (naughty me). I couldn't cope with the pre-ordained card layouts so yesterday I emptied them all out onto my desk and sorted by elements so I can mix and match to my hearts content, and this is what I came up with, using bits form 3 different kits! I rounded all the corners with a punch and added Tricia, after colouring her outfit to match the papers. I'm really pleased with the way this card has turned out. I used Scrappy's Sunday Sketch#021 over at Catch the Bug Challenge blog, and I am also entering her for Digital Tuesday Challenge#60 "Cute People"

You can find Tricia and her friends over at the Cowgirl Up Digital Stampen Ranch, and youv'e still got a couple of days to join the latest Challenge Red/Black/White colour combi and the Grand Opening Blog Hop, where you could win some fabulous free images, some blog candy, and a chance to join the DT as a guest for challenge #4. So why not pop over to the Challenge Blog and get started? If you get lost I've refreshed all the links on my Hop Post to help out.

Love as always Gina x x x

Critters Sketch Challenge#15

Hi folks, I made this card following this weeks Critter Sketch Challenge#15, using up bits from my stash. The Sarah Kay image is from a pile I stamped up ready to colour ages ago before I got into digi stamps. The background paper is from Brenda Pinnock's Sucerie collection. The lef for the sentiment is from a di cut sheet that came with Paint Box Poppet decoupage set I bought years ago!
Just noticed, I forgot to colour the patches on her jeans Doh!
Love as always Gina x x x

Cards for Jayme

This is a very quick card I've made to post to a lady called Jayme Clevenger, whose sister Lisa is asking us to send "froggy" cards to help make Jayme smile. Please check out Lisa's blog for more details.
Paula at Tales from Pollycraft has drawn a cool frog for you to use if you would like to join in with this request for "smiles". I used my MCS Walk in Wonderland graphics programme to make this card up for her. Sending it with much love Gina x x x

ATC Swappers

I have always liked making ATC's (artist's trading cards), but struggled to find someone to swap with. Now a lovely young man called Paul Ford is running a swappers blog called "ATC Swappers". He's been going for about a year but I've only just found him, brilliant!! You just email him and he tells you what you need to do to join in.
This months theme is "Tall Tales" as in childrens stories. I have chosen "The Tale of Tom Kitten" and used my Crafter's Companion "Beatrix Potter Collection" stamps to create a little story board. I coloured the images using my trusty copic pens, blending with a warm grey to give them a watercoloured effect.
Hope you like them.
Love as always Gina x x x

A Card for Sam!

Hi folks, I made this card for a different kind of challenge today. While visiting a friends blog I saw a request for help in the sidebar. Kathy over at Dust Pixie Studio is requesting help to bring a little sunshine into the life of a 5yr old boy called Sam, who is in hostpital recieving treatment for leukemia. She is asking that as many people as are willing send cards to him, so that he has something to look forward to when the post arrives. She calls him a real Super Hero, so I've used this image from Bugaboo Stamps called "Super Hero"
If you are interested in helping out pop over to Kathy's blog via link in side bar for more details.
Love as always Gina x x x

Blooming Evangaline!

This little sweetheart is called Evangaline, and is available from Pollycraft as a set called Sweetdreams Springtime Retro Collection. I have used 2 sheets of the same paper (Wild Blossom collection from Dovecraft, designed by Kate Knight) as the base, and to cut and decoupage the flowers. The mat behind Evangaline is a piece of green vellum, embossed and pricked, and sections coloured with a lime green copic pen.
Challenges entered;
Digital Tuesday Challenge#59 "vellum"
Prairie Fairy Fun Fridays#19 "Flowers"
Ooh La La Creations Challenge#54 "Bright and Cheerful
Pollycraft Monday Challenge*44* "Summer Bloom"
Love as always Gina x x x

Cowgirl Sunday Stampen Challenge#2 and Grand Opening

Well Good Mornin' folks, and welcome to the Cowgirl's first Blog Hop! I for 1 am really excited, as this is the first hop I've ever been involved in as a DT. I have two cards to show you today 1 is for this weeks challenge which is a colour combi Red/Black/White, and uses the Dirtbike image.The other 1 is made with the special edition freebie you can get when you spend $5.00 over at the Grand Opening Sale at the Cowgirl Up Digital Stampen Ranch.

If your following the Blog Hop you should have arrived here from Diane's, if not you need to start at the Cowgirl's Sunday Stampen Challenge Blog. All the prize details can be found there. You should also be collecting a number from each blog as you travel around, when you've finished you should add all the numbers together and email the total to the address given. I will leave a list of blog sites "in order" just incase you get lost along the way, and please remember to leave good wishes as you pass by, we are a friendly bunch and really appreciate your comments.

Order of blogs in hop:

Cowgirl's Sunday Stampen Challenge

Alison

Andrea

Ang

Beccy

Betty

Diane

Gina (that's me!!)

Jovita

Kimberly

Marion

Rachael

Sarah

Cowgirl Up Digital Stampen Ranch

Well 1 hopes that if your having a good time you'll mosey on over to see what Jovita has been up to next. Thanks for stoppin' by ( and I hope I did this all right, it's my first 1 you know!) Don't forget to add the number you found here to your total so far!

Love as always Gina x x x

Quick post

Not for any challenges, my husband asked me to make a birthday card for a young work colleague. He is a huge Man Utd fan so I thought red was the most appropriate colour! He is also well known for his flamboyant fashion sense, hence the sentiment. The image and sentiment are both from Bugaboo Stamps, and I used the png images in my MCS graphics programme to create the topper before colouring with copics.
I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that CJ has now managed to finish uploading her images to the new Cowgirl Up Store, and is generously offering 25% off everything from the grand opening on Sunday 16th to 31st of May, as well as a free image for every $5.00 spent!! So why not join us on Sunday for the next Cowgirl's Sunday Stampen Challenge and check out the shop while your there!!
Love as always Gina x x x

Pollycraft Monday Challenge #43

Can't believe I actually made a card for just one challenge, but I haven't used a Pollycraft image for a while so I thought I'd keep this one purely Pollycraft, their challenge and their image!
This little cutey is called "Cuthbert-for you". I've been wanting to use that spotty ribbon for ages so I coloured everything else to match it. I even re-coloured the flora doodle flowers with the same copic pen I used for Cuthbert's jumper and flowers. The layout is a Sketch by Lynsey which is Pollycraft Monday Challenge#43
Love as always Gina x x x

A whole bunch of Flowers for me!!!

I couldn't believe my eyes this morning, I am supposed to be in the garden, but thought I'd check my blog 1st, and what a suprise! 3awards waiting for me! I am truly amazed you all think I'm so worthy, and equally pleased to be able to spread the love!!! Thank you all X X X

I would like the following people to please accept this award from me.... wait a minute 3 awards x 12 = 36 awards...whooa! an Yipee! cos that means I don't have to miss anyone out hahaha! (this is going to take all day!!!)

Start with the easy one, to all the girls at Cowgirl's Up DT

Marion, Jovita, Ang, Andrea, CJ, Diane, Sarah, Beccy, Alison, Kimberley and escecially Rachel who needs a bit of extra sunshine today. Love you gals loads x x x

That's only 11!!!

Long list to follow( in no particular order) so look for your name, and if I missed you I'm sorry!!!

Fabs, Wendy, Stef, Steph, Vince, Ausie Kate, Moon momma, Heidi , Debdoescrafts, Chanelle, Lynne, Hazel, June, Crafty Kitten, Missy B, Doreen, Melita, Kathryn Adamson, Debbie Chantry and Mad About Crafting (and yes I did just work my way through my followers list, because I didn't want to miss anyone) Love you all!!!

That's 31!!!! 5 to go, keep reading it might be you!!!

This is the really hard bit, the last 5 go to........

Jodi, Katherine, Evil Enda, Elegia, and Itkupilli becuase I love you gals too!!!

Loads of love to EVERYBODY!!!!!

as always Gina x x x

Friday Florals

I've made this card to enter in the Friday Sketchers "2nd Birthday" blog hop challenge. We have to use Jacques Sketch#101. I am also entering this card for this weeks Catch the Bug challenge: Flower Power.
The papers are from The English Paper Company, designed by Vannessa Arbuthnott. The image is "Miss Patty" by CJ of Cowgirl Up Stamps (soon to be back online, watch this space). I've used the png version of the image and printed it over a photo of a wildflower meadow before colouring with copics markers. The flower embellishments I made myself with 2 different size punches.
Love as always Gina x x x

Nephew's Wedding

Thought I'd share this card with you today, and wish my nephew and his lady a beautiful day today! It isn't for any challenges, purley their wedding day. It is A5 landscape pure white glossy card stock overstamped in grey shadowink with a Lily image to match the lillies on the brides gown. The background paper and images are the base layers of a pack of Decoupage Sheets from Joanna Sheen, called "Wedding" By Walter Crane, which are unfortunately no longer available( unless you can find them somewhere else)

About the ribbon frame on my previous post, it's a cheat! I layered a png frame image over a brown rectangle before printing it out, then cut around the edges and inside the overlaps to make a shaped mat. I then matted it onto a piece of orange card and added it to the base card. The little image is raised on Pinflair 3D glue (like silicone but not silicone, no smell, I cant use silicone). Hope that helps.

Love as always Gina x x x

Moving Along With The Times #45

A quick post today. This is my entry for MAWTT challenge #45, which is a sketch by Clare.
The image I have used is by a very talented lady called Katherine at Countless joy. She has given us this image called "Welcy" as a freebie.
Love as always Gina x x x

Happy Birthday Lorraine!!!

Yes I know I'm a day early, but I didn't want her to think I hadn't noticed the countdown on her blog!( If you email me your address I can actually post it to you if you'd like it haha!)

This card actually works nicely for 2 challenges this week

Digital Tuesday's Challeng#57 " A toast to you"and Flutterby Wednesday's challenge#108 "anything goes". The cute little mouse is another of Sliekje's images and the butterfly is a peel off stuck onto pink vellum and cut out. The backing paper is from Brenda Pinnock's Sucrie collection.

Hope you like it Babes! Happy Birthday for tomorrow Lorraine !!

Love as always Gina x x x

This one's for the Glitterbabe!

Since wandering into "Blog Land" I have met some wonderful people. One of my favouritist blog buddies is a lady called Stef aka The Glitterbabe. I love going over to her blog cos she's just so much fun! She is now selling her own digi designs, and this week is sponsoring Tuesday Morning Sketches Challenge#44 so I thought I'd join in and use this sweet romantic kitty image(yes it's one of Stef's)

Hope you like it Stef.

love as always Gina x x x

Bring me sunshine....

Another very simple card today. The image I've used is called "Clothes peg" by Nicole at Inky Impressions, and I got her as a freebie from one of those freebie pages ages ago. Can't believe it's the 1st time I've used her!

I'm entering this card for 4 challenges

1st Fairy Fun Friday's : use a twig

2nd MAWTT#44 : Heidi's sketch

3rd Pollycraft Monday's #42 : here comes the sun

4th Ooh La La Creations#53 : Minimalist(white space)

Hope you like it

love as always Gina x x x

Cowgirl Up Sunday Challenge "Spring/Mother's day"

"Howdy" everybody, I am thrilled that CJ of "Stamp 'em with CJ" has decided to start up a challenge blog for us to showcase her designs! She really is a "Class" act with a variation is styles that mean no matter what type of images you prefer, cute n cuddly, fun, romantic or what I like to call "teen attitude" she's likely to have what your looking for. I came across CJ's blog one day while blog hopping, and she had released an image called "Lou". Anyone who knows me, knows she is my all time favourite image, as she is the free spirit I was and intend to be again, and I can't thank CJ enough for reminding me of who I am! Anyhow, enough of the smushy stuff, I was lucky enough to be chosen to work on CJ's DT for the next 6 months and this is my offering for the "Spring" option of this 1st Cowgirls Sunday challenge.

The image I have chosen is called "Lil' Gabe" and I think he is just adorable! The detail in his wings I feel is very "arts n craft" and his expression looks like my boys when you tell them to scrub up because your visiting Grandma hahaha! I've coloured him very simply with copics markers, and mounted him on an easel card(haven't built a light box yet hence not vgood photo).

I can't link you straight to the image yet as CJ is setting up the new shop http://cowgirlupdigitalstampenranch.com/ , which should be open in the next few days.

We are going to hold our challenges fortnightly, as it allows people to enter lots of other challenges too, without having to rush, and you don't "have to" use 1 of CJ's images if you don't have any yet, The "Girls" just wonna have fun!!

Looking forward to seeing all your wonderful creations, and as a" blog happy" Cowgirl I promise to try and get round to visit everyone who enters the challenges(I'm probably going to regret saying that, but hey I've got 2 weeks right?)

Leaving you now, with love as always Gina x x x

Christmas Saturdays

Hi folks, saturdays are rapidly becoming "Christmas Card" day on my blog! I think it is probably a good idea really, makes me look organized haha!

The 1st card is for "Bah! Humbug!" challenge#16, which was to use snowflakes in some way. I thought the little kitten from Sleikje looked like he was playing with the snowflake as it fell (the flake is much lighter and glittery in real life). The background paper is a photo of some frosty leaves "blown up".

The 2nd card is for Fab's Big Christmas Card Challenge#17, which was "Christmas Wreath and/or Glossy accents". I did both. Didn't have a wreath so I made one by cutting out a flower template, overstamping with various leafy stamps, then highlighted the holly leaves with glossy accents( berries with Holly Red stickles). Abit of distressing on the edges adds dimension.

Off to dig now! Veggie patch here I come!!!

love as always Gina x x x

P.S. Cowgirl Up Sunday Challenge Launch Tomorrow!!!!