HAVE YOU GOT WIND ??

I was watching the world weather recently and it seems that DORIS has been causing some problems around the UK. Now it looks like they will get more snow !!
It definitely feels like Spring here and I hope that we have done with the cold North winds. :-)

On FaceBook the other day, I saw one of those reminder/celebration thingies on Lyn's Page, showing us that it was 5 years since the release of " HEDGIE'S WINDY DAY "   and I realised that I hadn't got that one , although I must have over half the Shop at SPYDER's CORNER. !!!!   Anyways - I managed to snag him and here is something I did after colouring him up.
I have also used another Freebie..... this time it is a scrapbook kit Add-On from Magnolia, and I have made him a cool, windy background  using one of her papers:-)

The words are part of a poem called MARCH WIND (author unknown) which I thought was just right for this image.

March wind is a jolly fellow; 
He likes to joke and play. 
He turns umbrellas inside out 
And blows men's hats away.

I love Spyder's images and I really ought to get around to colouring them up - Spyder puts pictures of finished creations under the images in the Shop, so I'd like to fill it up with my offerings hahahaha LoL   :-D

Right - so I am off again now to get something else ready to show you and to find some Challenges to enter this one :-)

Thanks for popping in  (again) LoL

Challenges I am entering:

Scrappers Delights Challenge #63 - AG  1/3

LiL Patch Of Crafty Friends Challenge #52 - AG    3/3

Creative Corner Challenge - Winter Wonderland  1/3  *** TOP 5 ***

Simply Papercraft Challenge #44 - AG     20/3

SOME CARDS

I fancied doing some Challenges yesterday and having a browse through my stamps and images to see what took my fancy and fitted with the challenges.

My first one uses a new set of stamps from PINK & MAIN.     The set is called " FurEver " and you get a cat, a dog and a teddybear. You have to buy the stamps for the faces separately - they have about 4 different packs.

My backing is a new set of papers which were a Freebie from FAR FAR HILLS and this set is gorgeous and is called ' Spring Day '.
The weather is lovely here - all the birds are singing and the trees budding and the Almond blossoms are amazing. I really felt like Spring yesterday, so I used these lovely sunny papers.

I stamped my cat onto a piece of one of the background papers and made a heart to stamp the sentiment. The cat stamp was enhanced using Spectrum Noir markers for the shadows etc. and I added some white pen for eye shine as they looked a bit 'blank' left as they were.

My second card features digi images from SCRIBBLES BY SANDY and I have used " Hang 10 Brr " and  " Dog House ".

Rather than surfing the sea, he is having a go at snow surfing LoL   :-D

I don't have any of that white puffy stuff people use for snow, so I went with thick glitter. It looks ok and gives a real good frosty look on the ground :-)

The images were coloured with Spectrum Noir markers and Brr was popped up with some foamies.

The backing card was some from my stash and I used a Silhouette cutting file for the icicles.

I'll be back a bit later. Thanks for popping in to look xxxx

Challenges I am entering:

1.

Sending Pawprints Challenge #3 - Add a Heart     11/3

Crafty Catz Challenge #359 - AG with Twist - Spring

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #376 - Cats  5/3

2.

Scribbles Challenge #50 - Baby It's Cold Outside  1/3  ** Winner **

Creative Corner Challenges - Winter Wonderland   1/3

Challenge Up Your Life #60 - Glitter   3/3

Glitter & Sparkle Challenge #228 - AG    5/3

HERE's WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING

Hi Peeps,
I have been a busy crochet person this week doing an order for a friend.
This little guy only takes about 3 hours to crochet and stuff, but threading all the hairs on takes me 3 days LoL :-D  It's all separate strands looped in like making a dolls wig. !!

The home he's going to in the UK, I don't know if he is a boy or a girl, so I gave him a neutral bow.

I hope he doesn't get sick on the journey :-D

The pattern is a freebie from CROCHET PARFAIT. Mine looks a lot different because I used a different type of yarn to hers. It's a lovely wool that randomizes through from beige to black and is perfect for these litle guys. I have made 2 now but forgot to photograph the other one. This guy came out so much cuter cuz I now have some plastic noses :-)

I'll be back with some cards in a mo'

Thanks for popping in. xxxxxxxx

PDE Linky Party Challenge #16 - NO Cards

IKEsWORLD CHALLENGES #82 - SOME PIECES BY ME

Hello Peeps,
I have actually made a piece for IKEsWORLD CHALLENGES this week LoL.  I don't often get the time to colour something of mine but today I did, and popped myself in with TEAM B.

I have used one of my images from IkesArt called UK BULLDOG and coloured him with watercolour pencils. The background I used is a digital scrapbooking set from COOSTY CREATIONS ( formerly at StitchyBear Stamps)  called ' LadyBird Luncheon '.
I cut out an extra ladybird for him to be gazing at :-)

My second piece to show you is my project for this week's posting at SHOW US YOUR PUSSIES CATS ONLY CHALLENGE week 3.

This one uses two of my images. The first is called 'MOUSIE MUNCH' and I have teamed it with a brand new Exclusive image which is a FREEBIE for February over at the IkesArt FaceBook Fan Page.

I coloured these with Spectrum Noir markers and Derwent pencils and added a paper pieced gingham table cloth for the foreground.

I hope you will pop over and play along in these Challenges and don't forget to snag your Freebie " Peeping Tom " from our FB Fan Page. :-)

See you in a while.  xx

Challenges I am entering:

TWO PROJECTS USING THE SAME SKETCH

I was looking through the Challenge lists and I came across a sketch over at SATURDAY SKETCHES that I fancied having a play with.

I also had a go at making a Heart Rosette after watching a video done by my friend Fiki - BAD KITTY. :-)

Here's my first  project which uses my surprise Prize image I made especially for HOLLEY's celebration for 2017 - she is 7 years healthy now. Full deets can be read HERE.
I made her mouth a little smaller as someone had commented and said it was "too large + distracting"  !!

I used a backing paper from the " I Love You " set from FAR FAR HILLS, and I made my own ' I'm A Winner' backing paper for the triangles. I coloured up my image and then I added a heart Rosette as demonstrated by Fiki :-)  Whilst I was watching her video on YouTube, I happened to spy something on the right-hand side and afterwards I went and found out how to make this...............

It was demonstrated by a lady called Sheshe Crafts and there was a free PDF pattern to cut out and then fold for this little critter. I wound it with floral wire and used the end for his antennae and made a paper body.

My second project using this sketch is this one.

It is the BOX TOP for the collection of cards I am sending to the Pawprints donation scheme.

I have always had a ' soft spot ' for Westies and had the good fortune to know a very sweet one for many years - she has sadly now passed away :-(

This little one is called  "Valentine Westie" from DELICIOUS DOODLES, but I think he is no longer available - I have had him for years now, since I used to work for DD on their DT. I coloured him with Promarkers and gave him a Tartan bow, since he is from Scotland and I left his rose white for Scotland too.

I used a heart border punch for the two pieces of red card and made another of the Heart Rosettes Fiki showed me, this one using Tartan paper.

Well Folks, I am not sure if I will have anything else done tonight, so I'll say bye for now :-) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Challenges I am entering:

Sketch Saturday #451     25/2

Delicious Doodle February Challenge - Anything But A Card  (Box Top)  28/2

Making Memories Challenge #2 - Valentine Use some Red

A CRAFTING WEEKEND

Hi everyone - I don't know about you but I am looking forward to a crafting weekend now that my routine is basically back to normal :-)

I was going through my Blog Reading List this morning whilst having my coffee and I came across the Blog Hop over at SCRAPS BY GRACIE, and I saw a lovely Sketch there that they were all following. I got this crazy, hairbrained idea when I read that she said this................

"  How can you use a sketch other than copying it exactly?

How about changing it up by using patterned paper for the background?

Or changing the flowers to monsters or animals or another diecut or stamp? "

Well, you know that I like to do dark/scary stuff (on occasion hahaha), so I decided to follow my idea.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been out trying to catch stray, female cats in my area to get them 'fixed' to try and keep down a kitten explosion. !

It is a different culture here where I live and cats are not 'pets'. They are tolerated because they keep down vermin, but are not cared for.

In about 2 months there will be an increase in the population and this will happen again in August. Last year we had 3 lots of kitten births (again in November) because the weather stayed mild and the Queens came into heat again. Then - at least once a year - there are anonymous poisoning sessions and most of the cats 'disappear'.

Now, I don't know if you knew but I have 23 cats who live in and around my house and they always seem to be telling their friends how nice it is. I managed to get 3 'girls' from around my land and the others have been from in my local area around the streets and stuff where I walk my dog. It's been a great game of 'Snatch & Grab' and so far without permanent injury, although the 'Girls' are seriously NOT impressed with me at the time . LoL

Anyhoo - here is my little creation following the Sketch.

The image is one of my own digis called POE Cat although I have given him back his other eye :-D      He can be found in my shop, IKEsART :   HERE 

The background paper is from Decosse's Dynamite Doodles and I have added some blood spatter, bones and paws to follow the sketch.

Many thanks to my wonderful Vet - Vasso Lamba who does the 'fixing'. Obviously there can be no 'appointment' system when catching strays but she always manages to squeeze them into her busy day for me :-D  xxxx

Thanks for coming in this morning and I shall be back later with some photos of recent commissions. xxxx

Challenges I am entering:

Alphabet Challenge - Y for You choose   2/3

Creative Fingers Challenge #125 - AG  2/3

Simply Papercraft Challenge #43 - AG    24/2

Sisterhood Of Snarky Stampers Challenge #78 - X is for X-treme

SECOND ONE TODAY

Hello again,
Here I am with my second of the day. This one is made using another image from  SASAYAKI GLITTER. They have got a Progressive Challenge going on over on FB so I bought this little guy to play along with and then next month I get a FREE image :-D This cutie is called " CUPCAKE KITTY " and I coloured him with Spectrum Noir markers.  His actual card is a stepper card template from the Crafty Gals.

Challenges I am entering:

Sasayaki Glitter FaceBook Progressive Challenge - FEB

Thanks for stopping by xx

FIRST OF THE DAY

Happy Friday and here I am with my first offering of the day. This one is made using an image from a new designer (well, to me anyway). I saw details of the Shop and Challenge on someone else's Blog and went to have a peep. I ended up buying half a dozen or so digi images :-D
This is " Some Bunny Loves You " by SASAYAKI GLITTER.
I have coloured him with Derwent Academy Watercolour Pencils, and have used my new border die and a freebie backing paper from DECOSSE's DYNAMITE DOODLES.

Also used: scraps of red and white card

 my brand new  Marianne Creatables LR0407  Border Die 

Promarkers for edging

Red Paper Crepe ribbon

     

Thanks for looking xxxxxxxxxxx

Challenges I am entering:

Sasayaki Glitter February Challenge :  Use Red    3/3   *** TOP 3 ***

Craftaholics R Us February Challenge - Love/Romance   28/2

Crafts & Me February Challenge - AG     28/2

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - FEB    28/2

Crafty Purple Frog Challenge #4 - Love is all around   9/3

Die Cut Divas February Challenge - Red or Pink  28/2

HAPPY MAIL - YAY !!

Good morning Friday Peeps,
I am here to show you some gorgeous happy mail I received yesterday from my lovely friend SAMARA. A super little Christmas album with lots of pages and little secret places with journal cards and teeny envelopes :-D  I LUV it. :-D
Here are lots of photos :-D

Thank you so very much Samara. xxxxxxxx

*** Breaking News ****  Fiki has opened a little online craft shop so if you would like to pop over there, it's called the CRAFTY KITTY CAT SHOP.  Click on the name to link through :-)  Obviously there were more goodies in there yesterday but I went a-spending LoL   ******

Well, on the home front - my friends have arrived safely back from OZ so I will no longer be going up and down the mountain twice a day to cat/house sit, and things will get back into my old routine.

I have just finished a huuuuuge card commission order so I will be popping back later to show you some photos.

Thanks for popping in. xx

SEND SOME PAWPRINTS

Hi Peeps,
I can only pop in for one creation today as Wednesday is one of my busy days... I have Greek lessons in the morning and by the time I come back it's nearly time to go house/cat sit, so here is my offering.
I saw a great Theme over at  LESS IS MORE, using a colour wheel. The idea is to pick 3 adjacent colours for your creation.
I used the bottom right. I chose 3 Spectrum Noir markers and used the chubby end and a ruler to draw across some card for my background. The 'thanks' part is using a Silhouette cutting file.
The kitty is my FREEBIE over at SUYP this month and I coloured him in colours directly opposite my background colours to compliment them.

SENDING PAWPRINTS is all about making Thank You Cards for Vets and Animal Shelters. Here is their Mission Statement .....

Sending Paw Prints supports our furry friends by collecting blank pet themed thank you handmade cards and donating them to animal shelters and rescue groups for them to write heartfelt thank you messages to donors, foster parents and volunteers.

Challenges I am entering:

Sending Pawprints Challenge #2 - Use some Blue

Less Is More Challenge #314 - Colour Wheel    13/2

OOOOH - I LOVE A BIT OF RED !!

Hey there again,
This is my last piece for today.  Having seen a Challenge up by JULIA SPIRI,  I suddenly thought to myself " Well, there's a blast from the past " and I haven't used one of her images for a loooong time. I went and dug some out to make this little card......

I used my heart border punch again and made some little sentiment tags, and inside I put this cute spider clipart :-)

Image:  Julia Spiri - GOTHIC WITCH  coloured up with Promarkers.

I have just had another wizard idea for a Anti-Valentine card but I might not get that done today, so I'll say bye bye for now :-D  hee hee xxxxxxxxxxx

Challenges I am entering:

Julia Spiri Challenge #29 - AG with a Twist 'I Love Red'   3/3

Passion For Promarkers Week #381 - I Heart You