Charisma Cardz -challenge no.1 "Pink"

We have Lift Off!!!!

It's our first challenge over at Charisma Cardz a new weekly challenge blog, we would like you to make a 'pink' card. You can use any technique you like, stamped images, decoupage, toppers anything as long as it is pink.
Here is my first DT card as you can see from the greeting I made it for my daughter Lillie, she did very well in her ballet exam (passing with 'honours') and I will give this to her when she receives her certificate and medal. The image is a Bella which I received in a swap a long time ago.
We have a fab prize which Paula has kindly donated. Can't wait to see your designs and if you should need any inspiration why not take a look at the rest of the fabulous DT cards.

Hug a mug desk calendar

I have been wanting to make a desk calendar ever since I received one from Monika in a PIF candy. I bought the cd cases from Poundland when we bought the recordable dvd (which hasn't worked properly since the day we had it grrr....) The paper is out of a pack I've had for ages, there are small gems on the tips of the swirls and the calendar is curling a bit as I brushed it over with a beige watercolour pencil as the white stood out too much!! The image is one of the newer ones from Sugar Nellie's, I think she is really cute, and she is holding a mug of hot chocolate or maybe even soup I am using this as my entry into this weeks My Time to Craft challenge which is 'Food, Glorious, Food'
I am also entering this for the Lili of the Valley 'Anything Goes' challenge.
and Also for the challenge over at Cute Card Thursdays which they are asking us to use something we had for christmas on our cards, well I have coloured the image with my new Whispers Strokes brush markers, admittingly I used them as normal felt-tips but will practice with the blender pens sometime!!

We are awaiting news from Carly as to when Charisma Cards first challenge is going to hit the blog, will post my card and the challenge as soon as we know. Should be sometime today!

One Stop - Sugar Bowl

Yesterday I made this card following the sketch from One Stop Craft Challenge, it took minutes to make, the thing that took the longest time was choosing which buttons to use!!!Then I took the plunge and had a go at the sketch for the first challenge over at the Sugar Bowl, boy would I love to win the prize!! I have used one of the older stamps for this as I wanted to use the co-ordinating papers, and doesn't that button match a treat!?! I'm really pleased with my finished card, Matthew has already earmarked it for his brothers birthday and that isn't until October!! Don't forget it's the first challenge for Charisma Cardz tomorrow, please pop over and join in, I promise it's a challenge that everyone can take part in with the greatest of ease!!

Some Blog Candy alerts

Michelle (Donkeysmiles) has a lot to celebrate on Valentine's Day, not only is it her wedding anniversary and hubby's birthday it's a celebration that she loves, so Michelle has a wonderful selection of valentine's/love candy up for grabs. See here

Rach is celebrating the New Year with an amazing blog candy, this is also to thank all of her visitors and followers. See here

Mumur (Scrapmumur) has a Whiff of Joy Herb the snowman stamp up for grabs Here

Pink Gem Designs are offering one lucky person 2 free stamps (you get to choose which ones) to celebrate their New Release January Designs, go take a look Here they are lovely

Carly (Carlzcards) is celebrating the visitors she has had to her blog in the last 3 1/2 months, this will keep open until the counter hits 10,000 so not long! Carly has included not 1 but 3 gorgeous stamps in her candy along with lots of other scrummies!! See Here for details. Don't forget Carly's new venture which I am lucky to be a part of -Charisma Cards Challenge blog opens with our first challenge this Thursday, can't wait!

Simon Says Stamp have the most amazingly generous blog candy I have ever seen, with 10 lucky winners who will share in a prize totalling over $750 wow! See Here for all the details.

Joanne x

A Spoon Full of Sugar -challenge 33

Well it's our first challenge of 2009 over at A Spoon Full of Sugar and we are kicking off with a fab sketch designed by Nikkiand here is my card I have used my new Forever Friends birthday bear and instead of the flowers I've used stars from my stash. I've coloured the frill around the cake blue as I am going to give this to my cousins little boy who is 3 soon, you don't think the backing paper is too girly do you??

The prize this week is 2 cute Bug stamps (Rose and Ballerina) from Alota Rubber Stamps and has been kindly donated by Helene.

We have some sad news to, Deb has decided to step down as from her design team position to focus on other things. Deb good luck with it and don't become a stranger.

I am also entering this card for this weeks Forever Friends challenge which is your favourite colour, guess mine was blue today Lol.!!!!

Sketch and Stash challenge 1 card

Sketch and Stash is a new challenge blog set up by my friend Becky, my friend Lisa is also on the design team. The idea is every 2 weeks Becky will post a new sketch to work from, and you have to use new stash making it, could be 1 item could be all.
Here is my card for challenge 1 I have turned the sketch 90% anti-clockwise, the 'new' stash is the button, my local craft shop in town sells bags of mixed buttons for £1 a few days ago I bought 3 bags to go with the several that I already have Lol!! Also the papers are from a 'new' paper pad/booklet that came free with last months Crafts Beautiful mag (I know it was last month, but this was the first time I used it honest!) the image is a download available from Sally-Ann at Love to Doodle

here is a close up of the rosette (don't know if there is an actual name for these) I love making them, sometimes just 1 layer and a button or gem, other times several layers, I think they look really effective and a change from flowers!

I have just discovered that this card is also perfect for this weeks Papertake Weekly challenge which is 'Seeing spots' oh I love it when that happens!!

Back tomorrow with my A Spoon Full of Sugar design team card. First challenge of the new year, hope to see you there.

P.S. Don't forget, new challenge blog Charisma Cards whom I am lucky enough to be on the design team of goes live this Thursday 8th Jan, and it's a nice easy challenge to start with so no excuses for not joining in!!!

Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year, I hope 2009 will bring you everything that you wish for.