SOME CARD COMMISSIONS

Me again,
Here's the two cards I made this week for a lady to send to Sweden.
Her daughter is horse mad and the other is for her son. I always think cards for men are difficult.... maybe it's because men don't really look/appreciate them and usually just chuck them away. :-( I find it difficult to get mega inspired about a bloke's card unless they are someone who has a particular hobby/theme that they are really into - then they appreciate it more :-)

I was trawling for manly card ideas and I came across one by KAREN DAY that I have CASE'd. I didn't have the same papers but I quite like my effort - even if it does look a bit like Pyjamas  hahaha

The second card is for her daughter who likes horses. I tried making one of those pop-out centres - it's a bit if a bug to get it to fold away smoothly AND in the right place LoL.

Here's a Mothers' Day card I was asked to make for a friend. I used bluetits picture for a background, die cut edge and lilac stamps. I coloured the stamp with Promarkers.

Challenges I am entering:

FLUFFY AND CUTE

Hi All,
I managed to get a walk in some fresh air this morning as it's not raining (yet !!!)  LoL

This afternoon I have been using my Promarkers to colour a new image I bought - AURORA WINGS - " Mama It's So Fluffy".
I cut it out with dies (don't know the names sorry. ) One is a stitched square and the other is a pretty frame, and a great 2 piece fern/leaf set. I got them from FIKI at her CRAFTY KITTY CAT SHOP.
I used the smallest one and stamped the sentiment using my new 'Stamp Perfect'  by Hampton Art  :-)
The flowers are from a sprig of fake apple blossom that I got at a local e1 shop :-D I pulled them off the plastic stalks and glued some pretty beads in the centre to hold them back together :-D

Have a great day and thanks for popping in.

Challenges I am entering:

Passion for Promarkers Challenge #433 - Cats or Dogs     5/3

Lost Coast Designs Challenge #47 - More Than 2 Legs  1/3

Aurora Wings Challenge #64 - Bingo.... Flowers/Dies/Beads   17/3

A BIT WILD AND WOOLLY

Hello Peeps,
Well - after saying that Spring had arrived last week, it has definitely changed up a bit since last night. ! We had a big thunderstorm and loads of rain and the wind today is definitely wild and woolly. My Dog took one look outside and refused to budge and all the cats are cozying around the house :-)

I am hiding downstairs in my room and making some cards for Challenges I spotted recently.
I snagged a couple of gorgeous download Freebies from FAR FAR HILLS, so I have been using those too :-)

My first card is using the latest image from GERDA STEINER for the Progressive Challenge. It is called  " Bee Strong ".
I coloured him up with Promarkers and then copied the image several times to make a matching backing paper :-) His wings were done with Angel Fibers but it doesn't show up well on photos. Looks really cool close up though :-D
I used my new Basic Shapes Stitched Cutting Frames from Marianne Designs to cut him out.

Challenges I am entering:

Gerda Steiner March Progressive Challenge - Bee Strong   1/4

Naughty or Nice Challenge #37 - Feature a Creature

My second piece uses a real cute elephant from SASAYAKI GLITTER called " Birthday Elly ", and the new Freebie set from FAR FAR HILLS which is called " St Patrick's Day ".

I used all 10 of the designs and punched out quilt shaped pieces and stuck them to card. Then I hand drew some crazy stitching round it. The Elephant was 'paper pieced' with one of the designs and I then shaded and highlighted him using Promarkers.  I changed the flame on his candle for a Shamrock leaf.

The flowers are from my new Multi Flower Die set from MARIANNE DESIGNS.

Challenges I am entering:

Sasayaki Progressive Challenge #8 - March  31/3

Simply Create Too Challenge #125 -  Lots of Green  31/3

Craftaholics R Us Challenge March -  Shades of Green  31/3

Crafting By Designs Challenge March -  Use 3 + Patterned Papers

Angie's Digital Stamps Challenge #7 -  AG + Twist -Monochromatic Green  1/4

Thanks for popping in and I hope you are warm and dry today :-)

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

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

MORE PIGGY LOVE

Me again !!
This morning I saw the Progressive Challenge over at FROM THE HEART STAMPS and I remembered that I used to participate in this and really enjoyed it, so I went over and bought this month's image - ' HOGS N KISSES PIGWIT.
Don't you just LUV piggies ?? 

I have coloured him up with Promarkers and set him against a freebie DP I got at the weekend which was a freebie from LITTLE SCRAPS OF HEAVEN in their 'Foxy Valentine' kit.

I added a punched heart border and followed the sketch over at I HEART SKETCHES.

 

The lips are a cutting file from PRINTABLE CUTTABLE CREATIONS.

I don't know what that little thing is that he's holding but I don't think it's an onion - not for Valentine's Day right ????!  :-)


Challenges I am entering:

I Heart Sketches # 161    13/2
FTHS Progressive Challenge February - Hogs n Kisses   1/3

GETTING IN MY GROOVE

Hello Peeps,
I seem to have lost my Mojo recently... can't get to do anything although my mind is racing with ideas !!!  I did a bit of sewing and then my machine broke down :-(  At least I was able to draw up some new Digital Image requests and they will be rearing their heads shortly :-D 
Other than card making for orders, I seem to be definitely 'out of my groove', but maybe I can have more success at the weekend.

I often find that making ATCs gets me up and running, so I did a couple this afternoon.  Both of them are inspired by the sea, although one is humorous and one is a bit scary  :-)

This one was done using an 'Occasions Grumpy' rubber stamp set from SMEARED INK and the background is using the Plate 32 -  'At The Beach' stamp set from De-STEMPELWINKEL.

I coloured the sea with 3 shades of blue ink stamp pads and used just one of the pale ink pads to do the sky. Then I painted the sea part with Glossy Accents.

The Grumpy was coloured with Promarkers and then cut out and mounted on foamies. The fish was given a coat of Stickles and I added some Glossy Accents to his eye. I made a sentiment tab in my graphics programme.

Now this girl is one of my own digital images available at IKEsART and she's called " Mermaid 2 ". I only used the top half of her.  She was coloured with Promarkers.
I made a sheet of that wavy background a while back by blobbing yellow and green paint onto some blue card and pressing over with cling film. Then I made waves on it by scratching and using Stickles. I added some teeny shells that I collected from my local beach :-)

I had fun today and am feeling a wee bit more artsy fartsy now :-D

Thank you for dropping in xxxxx

Challenges I am entering:

Wicked Wednesdays ATC Challenge #218 - Water
De-Stempelwinkel Challenge #12 - Anything Goes
Lost Coast Designs Challenge #26 - ATCs

LITTLE BITTY ATCs

Me again,
I just popped in with my two ATCs that I made for Wicked Wednesday.
The Sponsor there this week is MISS RACH and I not only adore her images, I have loads of them so what better excuse to firk some out and colour them up. Here are my ATCs using  " Honey Bee " and  " Spring Hedgehog ".
I coloured them both with Promarkers.

Honey Bee has a little snippet of daisy parchment behind and a die cut honeycomb strip. I stamped his sentiment using Studio G mini Alphabet Set.

His wings were given a touch of Stickles for glitz and glimmer :-D

The Hedgie has a background made using a kit from Kristin Aagard Designs which is called " Gnome Garden ".

Right-ho, I'm off to feed my flock of kitties now so I will be back tomorrow :-D

Thanks for dropping in xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Challenges I am entering:

Wicked Wednesday ATCs Challenge #204 - Garden Friends 

SEXY STAR WARS

Hello Peeps,
I thought I would add some colour to my Sexy Star Wars digis that I drew a while back.
I have done the whole set and made them into an ATC pocket letter. I couloured them with Promarkers and made various backgrounds using textures and also a couple of internet images.

 IkesArt  "WooHooky "

 IkesArt  "Stormy Trupa "

  IkesArt  " Hanz SoHunky "

 IkesArt  " C36B PO &  R2ME2 "

 IkesArt  "  Sleya "

 IkesArt  " Darf Vamper"

 IkesArt  " Yowza "

Click on image to go to SHOP.

I hope you are all managing to get some crafting in this weekend in amongst scoffing your chok-litt and hot x buns ???!!

Have a great Easter and thanks for dropping in xxx

Challenges I am entering:

Wicked Wednesdays ATC Challenge  # 202 -  Star Wars   ***** WINNER ****

Naughty or Nice Challenges #25 - At The Movies 

The Stamping Boutique Challenges - Masculine

SHOCK, HORROR .... I'VE STARTED AN ART JOURNAL !!!!!

Well hello there Peeps - are you gearing up for the weekend ???!!

Would you believe it.... I have started an Art Journal. !!!! I was inspired recently by a page made by my mate SARN, using her Gelatos she got for Christmas. I held onto my old dairy from last year because I thought it might be just the right size for me to start with. It's 7 x 9.5 inches, so not too big to frighten me off. :-)
It has a lovely blue material, slightly padded cover and I wasn't sure what to do, whether to cover it or leave it and just hide the 2015. Maybe I should have done that before starting my first page, but hey-ho !!!

My first page was made on watercolour paper. I've always adored Daffodils and decided to do a piece to celebrate the Wordsworth poem.

I cut shapes for clouds and hills and I used them on the background by chalking around them to make a pale scene.

Then I printed William Wordsworth himself up on the top left, but made him very transparent.

I made a little clipboard with note paper and stamped the Dills onto it using a lovely rubber stamp I got the other day with my Pocket Letter from RONI at INK STAINS. I made a couple of masks so that I could over-stamp them to make a little cluster.

I coloured them with Promarkers, then I wrote out the first verse of the poem onto the note paper.

I decorated the side with die cut Dills :-D

Well - there it is !  I am not sure if it needs a title or something up the top right or some sort of embellishment around the edges, - do my die cut Dills need some leaves ????.... but I guess I could do something with that at another time. 

I am still a bit "yaaaaarrrrrggggh" about this journaling mallarky as I tend towards very precise, fiddly work with my art and I want to try and get myself to be a bit freer and wilder so that's why I am going to try this Art Journal. Hmmmm - let's see how long this lasts eh ?!!!  LoL

Thank you for dropping by anyway, and I hope you are going to have a lovely crafting weekend:-D 

Thanks to SARN for the inspiration.  xxxx

Challenges I am entering:

A TOUCH OF CUTESINESS :-)

Hi Peeps,
Today I am having an "Aaaaaww" moment and still exploring my 'cute' side. :-)
I am also continuing my promise of using up the Free digis that I snag from different Blogs/People.
This one uses a very new one that is drawn by ANGIE ADDISON. She has a FaceBook Page HERE and there is also a Challenge site.
The image is called "Little Lila Picking Flowers", and I coloured her with Promarkers. Still trying to get a grips with hair colouring - I might have to go to one of those on-line classes LoL :-D

The background paper is from a very old CD of 'Crush Papers - Be Mine' which I got from Crafty Downloads yeeeeeeeeaars ago (no longer available).

I made some strips of tiny tickets using 2  digi stamps from Stitchy at STITCHYBEAR STAMPS called 'Valentines Tickets' (I can't find it in the Shop now)

The die cut frame is from the Sizzix Labels #20 set.

I used a Sketch available HERE.

Thanks for stopping by for a little 'cute' fix :-)

Challenges I am entering:

Dream Valley Challenges #124 - Valentine's Day

CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #158

Crafty Gal's Corner Challenge #57 - Love Is In The Air

Crafting For All Seasons Challenge #119 - Love Is In The Air

A Gem of a Challenge #162 - Love Is In The Air

My Time To Craft Challenge #134 - Love Is All Around

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #116 - Anything Goes with a Twist - LOVE

OSAAT #255 - Anything Goes + Love is in the Air

HOLLEY's CELEBRATION

Hi Peeps,

Happy Saturday and I hope you are managing to squeeze in some crafting time this weekend ? :-)

My little chum Holley is having a special event throughout February to celebrate a health milestone which is very personal to her and she is having competitions and prizes all through the month. I am going to be involved in there somewhere too :-D

Well - for Wednesday 2nd, there is a Bookmark Making Contest and this features a really cute image which was made especially for Holley by Sandra Caldwell. I went and bought this image and made a bookmark for the competition.

I coloured the image with Promarkers and used a page from a book, and sat the little bear on an embossed 'congratulations' banner. Then I added a  die cut border and an inspirational quote from John Guare, which says " It's amazing how a little tomorrow can make up for a whole lot of yesterday ".

I inked the edges with Tim Holtz Distress Ink and added a little tassle from my stash.

Image: "Bearly a Headache" by Sandra Caldwell is available on Etsy.

I hope you will pop over and join in, see the other bookmarks and show support for Holley :-)

Hugz

IKE xx

Challenges I am entering:

Holley's Bookmark Making Contest

Challenge Up Your Life #34 - No designer paper

Creative Fingers Challenge #102 - Anything Goes

The Stamping Boutique #25 - Die Cuts or Punches