Carol's Crafty Corner

TTT #69 - Valentine's

2012-01-31T08:30:00.001Z

What gorgeous creations we had entered this week- again! You are all awesome and we so wish we could give everyone prizes!

Have you checked TTT to see if you are one of this weeks luck winners?

Please make sure you are familiar with our rules - We'd hate you to miss out on a prize because you weren't aware of them :(

Can I please remind you all to make sure you add (TIP) after your name when you leave a Top Tip on your post for us. Don't forget to mention in your post that your Tip is for Top Tip Tuesday.

We have a gorgeous tutorial this week from our lovely Bettina,

but before we see that let's find out who our fabby sponsors are for our

Valentine's

Challenge....

Bugaboo Stamps

Random.Org Prize for Valentine's Project uploaded into challenge:

One lucky Random winner will win 7 Digi images for their choice

Look out for the awesome DT cards from 2 of the amazing Bugaboo girls below, and some yummy Bugaboo images for some of the TTT DT :)

also sponsoring us...

Robyn's Fetish
Prize given to the DT's favourite Top Tip linked to challenge:

1 Lucky winner 4 stamps of their choice!

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is proud to sponsor this challenge.
Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More, a division of I Did It Creations, was created and is
owned by Robyn Weinrib. Robyn offers a wonderful variety of digital stamps and digital papers, designed to meet the needs of all digital paper crafting addicts for every occasion.

My DT creation for our Valentine's Challenge....

Using Bugaboo (image & sentiment) - Stella Love - Person to Annoy

What a gorgeous image this is - so versatile - Valentine's, Anniversary, Wife/Husband Birthday, even a 'Just Because' card...

I've coloured the special couple with Promarkers ...do you like the fact I made his slippers Lilac? Bet there's not 1 woman who can say her husband has NEVER worn her slippers! lol!

The papers are from my 'scraps drawer', the heart punched edge is MS Border Punch. Some punched flowers from the same silver '..to have and to hold..' card used beneath the image.

Now for the FUN!

Let's get on with the fab tutorial from Bettina, enjoy......

ABC Christmas - B is for......................

2012-01-25T08:03:00.006Z

Our challenge over at ABC Christmas for this fortnight is....

Bears and...............................

...Bunting and/or Banners and/or Brads and/or Bling and/or
Buttons and/or Bows and/or Blooms!

Hosted this week by our wonderful Dorte

Fabulous Sponsors for this challenge are...

Our very own Lacey with

Stamp and Create

and a whopping prize

and

Bugaboo

(Look out for the FAB Bear images in the DT's samples)

Challenge Blog: http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/

fabulous Prize

Here's my sample for this week...

I've used Bugaboo Christmas Teddy Tree

So I have Bear, Bunting and Brads!

Here's a close up of the little tag I've 'attached' to the bunting...

I'm embarrassed to admit the layout on this card has been in my 'bits box' for about 3 months - I started to make a care all those weeks ago and only got as far as the backing panel! I just added the bunting, Brads, Tag and Image!!!

Pop over to ABC Christmas now and check out the DT's Bears and..........................

Some challenges I would like to enter my card into....

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Stampin' For The Weekend - Out With The Old! (The backing panel)

I Need Some Printer Help Please!

2012-01-22T22:25:00.001Z

Happy Sunday evening to you all :)

I wonder if I could trouble you for some printer advice?

I have a Kodak ESP C110 AiO (All in One). I changed the colour ink yesterday and printed off A4 pages of a Pink Damask paper - about 25! - I know that's a lot but I've printed nothing else. I went to use the printer this afternoon and it wont.................it's telling me the colour ink needs changing - again! Aaarrrhhhhh - the blue and yellow ink hasn't even been touched :(

Anyway, after doing the usual 'take it out, shake it, put it back' a couple of times I Googled it to see if I could somehow 'over-ride' this as I only wanted to print in Blk & White - I know I used to be able to with another printer I had when it used to tell me my compatible inks weren't in! All I found was lots of reviews saying that the ink lasts nowhere near as long as expected in a Kodak and so many people with repeated problems ref ink, all saying that although the ink claims to be the cheapest, in the long run it's not as you have to replace it so often!

Those little boys playing football in their garden that they've covered in printed pics of the crowd in a football stadium, failed to point out the HGV full of cartridges parked out the front of their house!

So, I'm on the look-out for yet another printer!

Please let me know what you have and if you're happy with it - or what you have that you are not happy with (so I can avoid that one too!)

I want it to take card, without me having to sit there and persuade it through - I was sooooo happy when my Kodak came and would do this - nothing worse than printing off 100 Wedding Invites and you have to sit there and 'encourage' each piece of card through!

Ideally I would like it to take compatible inks - Kodak don't as they are the cheapest and compatible ink companies don't find it beneficial - They should re-think that one!

An integrated scanner would be good - but not necessary as I do have a stand-alone one (somewhere in my cupboard of past printers!!!!)

I have to buy more ink for my Kodak tomorrow as I have orders to finish, but I'd really like a printer that I could be 100% happy with - is there such a thing?

TTT #68 - A Sketch or 2!

2012-01-17T08:30:00.004Z

Good Top Tip Tuesday Morning to you!

WOW......603 entries into our first bi-weekly challenge - awesome!

This week our challenge is......

Sketches

This week the Lovely Lisa is our Host and she has produced some awesome sketches for us to work from.

She has given us 2...

Layered or Clean and Simple - the Choice is yours.

Choose either, or do both!

Sketch 1: Layers

Sketch 2: Clean and Simple

You may rotate or flip the sketch, add a few extra embellishments or elements but please ensure the original sketch is clearly visible in your finished creation.

This weeks fabulous Sponsors are......

Stamp & Create

Top Tipper Prize of
$25.00

Stamp and Create is an on-line store based in the US. We ship worldwide with reasonable shipping prices.
We specialize in Rubber Stamps and Scrapbook supplies. Some of the companies we carry are: Wags 'n Whiskers Rubber Stamps, High Hopes Rubber Stamps, Whiff of Joy, The Greeting Farm, Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, Stampavie, Whimsy Stamps, Emerald Faeries, Basic Grey, My Mind's Eye, Echo Park, Ribbon, Charms, embellishments, dies, and more!

and

Karens Doodles

...with a prize of 3 Digi Images of the winner's choice.

Karen's Doodles has a fantastic selection of designs, Digital and Rubber stamps.

Look out for some of Karen's fab images in our DT samples :)

and

Sew Sweet

The Lovely Emma from Sew Sweet is offering 1 lucky entrant
a £10.00 voucher to spend at her yummi shop.

Sew Sweet stock a huge selection of Wool felt, buttons, ribbon, divine twine, Handmade personalised gifts, findings and more.

My offering for this fabby Sketch challenge is........

You may recognise these little darlings as I've done a few cards with their pictures on! They are the triplets of a friend in work.

It's their 2nd Birthdays in a weeks time and I have more cards to make for them then!

I have used some gorgeous new stash I got this week from WOC - some of that amazing rose ribbon that I have been admiring for a while and more flowers!

It was quite difficult picking the papers for this card - obviously I didn't want it too girly or too boyish! The papers are from DCWV Nanna's Nursery; Baby Girl. I picked the red/dark pink as the main as I thought it matched his shirt.

Can you see the sweet little butterfly on one of the roses? I picked up some earrings in the supermarket - reduced to 50p a pair - and they've even get their own little push-on fixy thing to secure them to the ribbon ;)

Now it's your turn to pop over to Top Tip Tuesday and join in with the Sketch Fun!

Don't forget we want to see your Top Tips - We give a prize to the DT's favorite :)

Some Challenges I'd like to enter my card into........

Wild Orchid Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Designs - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Buttons, Bows, Bling & Blooms - any or all!

Divas By Design - New Beginnings and/or Thanks

Simon Says Stamp - Spots and/or Stripes

Crafty Catz - [use] Something New

ABC Christmas - A is For.........................

2012-01-11T08:30:00.006Z

............. Anything Christmas!

Welcome to the first challenge of 2012

This Challenge's Fabulous Sponsors are..

Simon Says Stamp

with a fab $15 voucher

(excluding postage)

Stamp Fairy

$10 Gift Certificate

Ribbon Girl

Mini Christmas Ribbon Kit!

I'm sure you'll agree we have some amazing prizes to kick off the year!

My A for Anything Christmas is.............

I used a gorgeous digi image from Stamp Fairy called Button Christmas

I 'stretched' the image to make it more circular and used it as the front of an Easel Card.

I've coloured it with Promarkers and covered the outer 'frame' with Glitter Glue to give it a bit of sparkle!

The sentiment was done on the PC.

A couple of Challenges I'd like to enter my card into..........

Sentimental Sundays - Snow, Blue and/or Glitter (1,2 or 3 of above)

Cupcake Inspirations - I was inspired by the gorgeous bright green

TTT - #67 - Caught Our Eye!

2012-01-10T08:30:00.007Z

WOW - we are only half way through this weeks challenge and what an amazing turnout we have had so far!!! I guess you like our

ANYTHING GOES

challenge!

There is still one week to go to enter the challenge, however, we wanted to showcase the creation that half way through has...

CAUGHT OUR EYE!!

Pop over to TTT now to find out WHO Caught Our Eye!

I have made a Half-Way card too..............

And a Half-Way Top Tip to go with it...
Use photo's to make your cards really personal.
This card is using a photo of the plaque outside the cafe that John owned for 20 years before he retired last week.

I am not a fan of 'New Years Resolutions'
(if I can't eat healthy during the Summer, I aint gonna try when the house is still full of Christmas chocolate!)
BUT I have decided to start making a bit more effort with the inside of my cards - I always add inserts but think I'll try decorating them now!

Remember, there is still a week to go of our ANYTHING GOES challenge - please click here

to take you to the current challenge to add your creation, which is open until Monday 16th January.

Some challenges I'd like to enter my card into............

Joanna Sheen - Celebrations

Simon Says Stamp - New Something...New outlook at life - Retirement!

Dutch Dare - New Beginnings...New life after work!

Crafty Catz - A New Beginning...To a work-free life!

I soooooooooo wish I could retire - got a few years to wait yet tho ;)

Top Tip Tuesday #67 - Anything Goes!

2012-01-03T08:30:00.005Z

Happy Top Tip Tuesday New Year!

Don't forget we are now a

'Once a Fortnight'

Challenge.

More time for you to join in - you can enter up to 3 times - pass on and pick up your Top Tips too :)

Every other challenge will also be a Top Tip Challenge, so grab your 'Top Tip Tippers Pad' and pen and jot them down as you look through the DT's samples.

Next Tuesday Leanne will be over at TTT to showcase our

'Caught Our Eye'

project - this will be one of the challenge entrants added from now until Monday that we think everyone needs to see - a new Blinkie has been created for our CoE's.

So don't wait till the last few days to add your entries!

Challenge - Anything Goes

...again :)

We LOVE AG challenges!

Brought to you by Leanne, Carol, Samantha

and the fantastic TTT DT :)

Our fantastic Sponsors...

Simon Says Stamp

Simon Says Stamp is offering a $20 gift voucher to spend in their store!!

&

Stamp Fairy

Look out for some of their amazing images in our DT samples :)

Our Top Tipper Prize is from...

Crimson Cloud

Prize offered to 1 lucky winner is: 3 packs of die cuts.

My 'Anything Goes' sample for this Challenge is......

A Wedding Card using an image from Stamp Fairy

Lenny & Linda Wedding

and a Wedding Memories Book...

My Top Tip for this challenge is...

...When making cards/gifts for a wedding ask to see the invitation - the colour scheme is usually given away here, you can then match your creation.

Here I was actually given the green ribbon off the invitation to use - I used it for the Wedding Memories Book but did not have enough for the card so kept the colours of that to black, white & silver.

My gorgeous image I have coloured with Promarkers (I treated myself to 4 new packs last week as they were in a sale! I'm now so happy I have more 'shades' of colours to pick from...still have to get quite a few more tho!!!)

Pop over to Top Tip Tuesday to see what amazing creations my Teamies have come up with - as well as some designers from 2 of our sponsors - and there's loads more Top Tips over there too :)

Some challenges I'd like to enter my card/Memories Book into........

(pop over and enter your TTT Anything Goes into some of them too)

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes!

Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes!

Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes!

Joanna Sheen - Celebrations

Crafter's Companion - Love is in the Air

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Fancy Folds / Shaped Cards

ABC - G for Green (The colour theme for this Wedding, as depicted in the ribbon!)

Simon Says Stamp & Show... - Something Old, Something New (the ribbon I used for the Memories book was 'old' and the book was bought brand new!)

Craft-Room Challenge - Anything Goes!

Crafty Sentiments - Love & Romance

Party Time Tuesdays - Something New (A new life as a married couple! - as well as my new image and my new Promarker shades!)

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes (With optional of 'New'...Newly Wedds!)

Stamping for the Weekend - Anything Goes!

Allsorts - New Beginnings

Sentimental Sundays - Anything!

Pile it On - Anything Goes!

Bearly-Mine - Anything Goes!

I can't believe there are so many challenges this week that I can enter - yipee!

2012-01-01T11:09:00.000Z

Here's hoping 2012 brings you and yours all you deserve

Huge thanks to all of you who pay me regular visits - I really appreciate your support xxx

TTT - Anything Goes!

2011-12-27T11:04:00.002Z

Good Top Tip Tuesday All!

Did you all have a good Christmas? I do hope so :)

One thing with the Christmas holiday is I always get lost on what day it is.....thus this post being a couple of hours late! ...tut, tut!

This week we have a very easy challenge for you

ANYTHING GOES

Doesn't have to be christmas inspired - just anything at all!

SOME NEWS!

From next week (3rd January), Top Tip Tuesday are going to be changing to a bi-weekly challenge!! This will give you even more time to add your wonderful creations to our challenges! We will also be doing a mid-way feature of your creations that have caught our eye so far.

This weeks sponsors:

Pink Gem Designs

4 digi images of winners choice

Fred She Said

$20 voucher!

Ooh La La Creations is offering you any 1 of their CDs!

Dew Drop Craftz

who are offering one lucky winner £10 gift voucher to use in their shop.

What amazing prizes we have this week!

My 'Anything Goes' project for this week.....

Now pop over to Top Tip Tuesday and show us your 'Anything Goes'
...and don't forget those Top Tips too ;)

Some challenges I'd like to enter... (and look at all of these 'Anything Goes' challenges that you could enter with your Top Tip Tuesday entry too!)

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge - Fancy Folds/Shaped Cards

Craft-Room Challenge - Anything Goes

Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes

2011-12-25T02:28:00.000Z

I hope you have a good one xxx

ABC Christmas - Z is for.....

2011-12-21T08:00:00.001Z

Zingy Colours

ABC Christmas Photo Inspiration:

********************

Our amazing Sponsors for this challenge are...

Stamp and Create

********************

Bugaboo

Challenge Blog: http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/

********************

Here's my ZINGY Card.....

I used an image from Bugaboo called Udderly Amazing - not a traditional Christmas image, but with a sentiment I think it works well. As long as the 'wife' doesn't take offence - but she's a beautiful cow, so how could anyone take offence!

Please excuse the photo - my batteries in my camera need charging so I had to use my phone!

Pop over to ABC Christmas Challenge and show us your

Zingy Colours

Top Tip Tuesday #65 - Anything Christmas

2011-12-20T18:15:00.000Z

It's a Tipper Week!

Good Top Tip Tuesday Morning to you all.

This week we have another simple challenge.

Unfortunately this is the last one before Christmas so let's see the rest of your...

Anything Christmas!

Yes this week we want to see any project you make for Christmas!

It can be a paper project. a fabric project or how about your table centre piece!

We have some amazing sponsors again this week...

Stash Books

who are offering our featured tipper an amazing book:

Karen's doodles

Fantastic selection of designs, Digital and Rubber stamps

Winner will receive 3 digis from Karen's doodles of their choice.

Lisa's

Milk Carton Log Cabin Ornament Tutorial

Pop over to Top Tip Tuesday now to check it out!

Top Tip Tuesday #64 - A Gift!

2011-12-13T08:30:00.003Z

Good Top Tip Tuesday Morning

What amazing Snowy Creations last week - thanks to each of you who entered - pop over to TTT to see who this week's winners are....

**************************

Challenge - Gifts

Your project can be something you've made to give as a gift

or use an image that includes a gift!

**************************

We have 3 awesome sponsors this week!

Simon Says Stamp

Simon Says Stamp is offering a $20 gift voucher to spend in their store!

*********************

Robyn's Fetish!

New Christmas digis from Robyns Fetish

(go check them out!)

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is proud to sponsor this challenge, and they are offering our lucky winner 4 stamps of their choice!

*********************

Top Tipper Prize

is from

Di's Digi Downloads

1 prize of 5 digi stamps of your choice

**************************

We also have an amazing tutorial this week from our wonderful Moriah,

How to make Paper Cones

**************************

For my 'gift' project I followed Moriah's fab tutorial....

I've made a few of these fab little Paper Cones and filled them with chocolate coins as little gifts for my Nieces and Nephews

Whilst we're on things that can be hung on the tree,

Just thought you may like to see my tree that I decorated this weekend....

The Santa that you can see is a product of one of my first crafty experiences! I made him about 22 years ago (doesn't he look good for his age!) after remembering a 'Dusty-Bin' I had made in school quite a few years earlier, with a large coffee tub and fur fabric.

This Santa comes out every year and is filled with small gifts for my 3 children, not labelled but wrapped in particular paper for each of them! These gifts are then opened randomly from Christmas Eve morning until they've all gone - usually about a week after Christmas - I love anything that prolongs the festivities!

The best thing is the 3 of them are already looking in him to see if the pressies are there - and they are 20 and 23yrs old!

ABC Christmas - Y is for ...................

2011-12-07T08:30:00.003Z

Welcome to another ABC Christmas Challenge.

ABC Christmas Challenge

Y is for ................YIPPEE!

Anything Christmassy Goes!

####################################################

This week's amazing Sponsors...

and we have 3 of them!!!!!!!!!!!

Dustin Pike

Prize

3 Dustin Pike digi images

and

Simon Says Stamp

$15 to spend in store

and

Karen's Doodles

Prize

3 Digi's of your choice

############################################

My Y for Yipee is using one of the gorgeous images from Karen's Doodles

Santa Christmas

...isn't he gorgeous!

I've coloured him with Promarkers and used a selection of papers from the Milton & Co Christmas Paper Stack.

I tried to match his chair with the green in my chosen papers but as I only have 2 green Promarkers at the moment it didn't match as much as I'd have liked it to - oh well I'll just have to make sure I have a few on my Christmas list!

I have dusted the edges with chalk and the sentiment was done in Word.

Please pop over to ABC Christmas Challenge and take a look at the rest of the 'Yipee' cards - I'm sure you'll be making one very soon that you could enter - especially with all of those amazing sponsor prizes we have!

Some challenges I'd like to enter my card into................

Pollycraft Monday - Christmas Fun!

Prime Time Tuesdays - Holiday Greetings

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes!

Divas by Design - Anything Goes!

Simon Says Stamp - Photo Inspiration (Santa element)

Top Tip Tuesday #63 - Let it Snow!

2011-12-06T08:30:00.008Z

Good Top Tip Tuesday Morning

This week we have another amazing Tutorial for you...

Bettina's

Paper Snowflakes

Pop over now to TTT to find out how to make this amazing creation!

Challenge - Let It Snow

...show us some snow or snowflakes!

Our wonderful sponsors this week are...

The Crafty Pad Designs

The Crafty Pad
Prize - 2 Digi Images

3 images of your choice from Limited Runs

Here's my Snowy Sample.......

My snowflakes are die-cut from that foamy packaging stuff you get in some mail order parcels - I read this idea on someone's blog but can't for the life of me remember who!!!!!!!!!!
If it was YOU please shout!

Make sure you check out our fab new Challenge over on TTT and check out the rest of the DT's creations :)

I will be entering this card into a couple of challenges...........

Mo's Digital Challenge - The Great Outdoors. Image used was the Fantastic Freebie 'Snow Day' that Mo wrote about on FB last week - isn't it gorgeous! Snow Day is now available to buy here!

PollyCraft Monday Challenge - Christmas Fun!

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Passion For Promarker - Celebration (4 week Challenge)

Diva's by Design - Anything Goes

Simon Says - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments - Snowflakes

Top Tip Tuesday #62 - A Hint Of.....

2011-11-29T08:30:00.001Z

Good Top Tip Tuesday Morning!

What fabulous 'More Than 1 Fold' projects you showed us last week - were you one of our lucky winners?

This week we have an amazing Tutorial for you as well as our new challenge...

Colour Challenge

and
Deneen's amazing Christmas Ornament Tutorial

Silver, White and a hint of Colour!

This week's Sponsors......

Inky Impressions

Prize is a $10 gift certificate

and

Digital Delights by Louby Lou

Prize:

Please pop over to Top Tip Tuesday to see the fab tutorial and to see what amazing creations the DT have come up with.

ABC Christmas - X if for..........

2011-11-23T08:30:00.002Z

...Xerox!

Or if you're in the UK - Copying!!!

Welcome to another ABC Christmas Challenge.

ABC Christmas Challenge

This week we want you to choose a PAST Challenge DT card from any 2011 challenge by any of our DT members.

You then have to 'Xerox' that card.

The layout, the image, the papers or all 3!

All we ask is you show us the card you are Xerox'ing in your post :)

Here's the card I chose to work from.....

Samantha's V for Vintage card from a few Challenges ago,

Isn't it gorgeous!

My take on this beauty...

As you can see I was inspired by Samantha's Layout.

I've used an amazing image from one of our sponsors this week -

Make-it-Snappy--Magical-Christmas

from

Bugaboo

Challenge Blog: http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/

our other sponsor this week is...

Digital Delights

and our Winner will receive 3 digital stamps of their choice.

Pop over to ABC Christmas Challenge to check out all of the details and see what other cards have been Xerox'd by the rest of the DT :)

Some challenges I'd like to enter my card into....

Pollycraft - Christmas Fun

Papertake Weekly - Christmas Crackers

Top Tip Tuesday - #61

2011-11-22T08:30:00.003Z

Good Top Tip Tuesday Morning

What fabulous Tags you showed us last week - were you one of our lucky winners?

This week we have an amazing Tutorial for you...

By our very own Janette, she is showing us how to make a Tri-Fold Shutter Card.

If you want to know how to make this amazing card pop over to Top Tip Tuesday now!

So this week's challenge is...

More Than 1 Fold

Our Sponsors are:

1st Prize
Simon Says Stamp

Simon Says Stamp is offering a $20 gift voucher to spend in their store!!

2nd Prize
Sew Sweet

The lovely Emma from Sew Sweet is offering 1 lucky entrant
a £10.00 voucher to spend at her yummi shop.

And our Top Tipper Prize

Stash Books

who are offering our featured tipper this brilliant book:

Calling Cards—Connect with Style

Here's my 'More Than 1 Fold' offering.......

An Exploding Box.

This one is a Wedding Day Gift from a Groom to his Bride, and I'm sure they wont mind me adding it here as they are in Mexico getting married at the moment!

Can't wait to see your folds this week ;)

Top Tip Tuesday #60 - Tags!

2011-11-15T08:30:00.005Z

Good Top Tip Tuesday Morning

I've had a little Top Tip Tuesday holiday recently but am now and all 'chilled out' and raring to get back! Pity I didn't feel the same about work ;)

Gorgeous 'Anything Christmas' creations this week - and so many of them too - thank you to each of you who takes the time to join in with our challenges - we wouldn't be what we are without you :)

This week we have one of our favorites....

Tipper Week!

As usual we have some amazing sponsors this week too...

Pink Cat Studio are offering one lucky winner 5 digis of their choice.

and

Glitterbabe Greetings is offering our featured Top Tipper 2 images of their choice from their shop!

To go with our Tipper Week we'd like to set this week's challenge for you to...

...use a Tag in your project

Make a Tag as your project!

My 'Tagged' project this week is a very simple but effective (I hope!) gift box....

My Top Tip to go along with my project this week is...

Gift boxes don't have to be elaborately decorated to look good!

Make a simple 'Paper Folded Box' in contrasting colours, use ribbon to give the box some style (this also covers the creases you get when making these ultra-easy boxes).

Add a matching tag and you have a perfect box, fit for that extra special gift!

If you'd like to see how to make one of these boxes pop over to Craft & Creativity for a fab little 'How To' - an amazing site by the way!

Pop over to Top Tip Tuesday to see the rest of the DT's Top Tips for this week.

Don't forget we want your Top Tips.....so many of you are leaving Top Tips in your posts without realising!

Once you've written your post, re-read it to see if you can identify a particular Top Tip in it....edit your post to mention your Top Tip is for Top Tip Tuesday and YOU could win our Top Tipper prize!

We look forward to seeing those Tags this week :)

Top Tip Tuesday #58

2011-11-01T08:30:00.007Z

Good Top Tip Tuesday Morning

Did you all have a 'Spooktacular' Halloween last night - I hope so and if your Trick or Treat projects last week were anything to go by you all had fun too :)
We hope you enjoyed out Tipper Week too - we do love to share our Top Tips with you all.

This week our Challenge for you is....

'Make Your Own Papers or Background!'

Our wonderfully talented Samantha has written a fun tutorial for you
...Background papers with Impressibilities!

Pop over to Top Tip Tuesday to check it out now!

Our fab sponsors for this week are...

The Crafty Pad Designs

Prize - 2 Digi Images

and

Karen's Doodles

Winner will receive 3 digis from Karen's doodles of their choice.

We had some gorgeous Digi images to play with this week from Karen's Doodles and I chose the gorgeous Fairy Fun for my card.......

She's not s'posed to be a Christmas Fairy but dressed in the right colours she looks pretty seasonal, don't you think?

I made my background with a wad of 'Bubble-Wrap' as a stamp! How cool is that!

I used Brilliance Ink in 'Moonlight White'. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out too!

...and of course I just had to write a suitable sentiment in Word!

The sweet little Digi fairy was coloured using Promarkers and I'm just loving the extra fine nibs you can now buy for them - thing is I've only got 6 at the moment so have to be selective with my fine colouring until I get more!!!

So get those inks/chalks/mist sprays/etc out and start making some backgrounds - we can't wait to see them!

Some Challenges I'd like to enter my card into....

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Pollycraft Monday - Anything Goes

Papertake - Anything Goes

Carisma Cardz - Anything Goes

Winter Wonderland - CaS Christmas

PCJ - Use a Digi

ABC Christmas - V is for..............

2011-10-26T08:30:00.003+01:00

ABC Christmas Challenge

Welcome to another ABC Christmas Challenge.

Thanks for all of those entries last week - over 200 - wow! How much 'Unused Stash' did you manage to get through!!!!
Huge thanks to each and everyone of you who joined in - have you checked out the winner yet?

This fortnight's Challenge is...

V for ..............Vintage

Our fab sponsors for this challenge ...

The Ribbon Reel

Vintage Christmas yummi ribbon and lace Prize

and

Crafty Emma's Store

£10 voucher to spend in store.

I actually found this rather hard this time!
I binned x2 cards in one day and then decided to try something completely different - and these evolved!

I found these nice chunky pegs stashed in my Christmas box - I obviously put them there for something but can't remember what!

I used UHU to fix Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses paper to both sides of the pegs. Once that dried I cut around them with a craft knife and sanded the edges. I then added some Antique Linen TH ink to the edges too.
I then decorated each peg with a charm/brad/leaf etc!

I'm not really sure what I will use these for but I'm sure I'll hang something up with them - even if it is the tea-towles!!!

I really look forward to seeing your Vintage Christmas cards this time - After my disasters with this challenge I need the inspiration :)

A challenge or two.....

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes!

Top Tip Tuesday #57....

2011-10-25T08:00:00.011+01:00

Good Top Tip Tuesday Morning

It's Tipper Weeeeeeeeeek!!!

This week our Challenge for you is....

Trick or Treat!

Our sponsors this week are....

Stash Books

who is offering our featured tipper an amazing book:

Gift Box Studio® Celebrate

A bit about Stash Books: Stash Books is an imprint of C&T Publishing located in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you’re craving beautiful authenticity in a time of mass-production…Stash Books is for you. Stash Books is a new line of how-to books celebrating fabric arts for a handmade lifestyle. Backed by C&T Publishing’s solid reputation for quality, Stash Books will inspire you with contemporary designs, clear and simple instructions, and engaging photography.

Di's Digi Downloads

1 prize of 5 digi stamps of your choice

I have been drawing since a child and studied graphics at College many years ago, I now work as a Medical photographer part time but my love was always drawing. I started cardmaking about 4yrs ago when I bought my daughter a cardmaking kit which we did together, but I’m afraid I got the bug! My daughter preferred scrapbooking. I then started looking online at other blogs and this then became my passion and I loved sharing my cards with likeminded people. I love stamping and loved finding images, but sometimes I could not find what I wanted so I started to draw myself.

This then has become my second addiction and I have never looked back, I love thinking of new images, and its just fabulous to see others take them and make them into beautiful works of art. Long may it continue.

My Trick or Treat card for this week....

Here's my Top Tip to go with my card...

....Shaker cards don't have to be complicated...here I printed directly onto the card blank, coloured the sweet little fella, cut my desired 'frame' with Nesties, used DST to fix acetate to reverse of frame, cut foam pads into thin strips and stuck around edge of frame (making sure they tightly butted up to each other), put a little pile of glitter strands onto the ghost and stuck the frame over.

I've used a gorgeous image from one of our sponsors this week

Magician Boo from Di's Digi Downloads

Pop over to Top Tip Tuesday to see the rest of the DT's fantastic 'Trick or Treat' cards and of course their amazing Top Tips :)

Some Challenges I'd like to enter my card into.....

ABC Challenge - B is for 'Boo!'

Pollycraft Monday - Spooky Goings On!

Divas By Design - Something Spooky!

Truly Scrumptious - Shaker card/box

CAS-ual Fridays - Colour your image

Stamping For The Weekend - Spooky!

Allsorts - Halloween

Cupcake Inspirations - Photo Inspiration

Simon Says Stamp - Nursery Rhyme Inspiration ...'Because It's Halloween' (to the tune of Wheels on the Bus)

Because It’s Halloween

The ghost in the attic says “Boo, boo, boo”

“Boo, boo, boo”

The ghost in the attic says “Boo, boo, boo”

Because it’s Halloween

The witches with a big pot stir, stir, stir

Stir, stir, stir

The witches with a big pot stir, stir, stir

Because it’s Halloween

The bats in the sky fly zig zag zig

Zig, zag, zig,

Zig, zag, zig

The bats in the sky fly zig, zag, zig

Because it’s Halloween

The pumpkins on the porch all have big grins

Have big grins

The pumpkins on the porch all have big grins

Because it’s Halloween

The children of the town eat lots of treats

Yum, yum, yum

The children of the town eat lots of treats

Because it’s Halloween

Another one of my Wedding cards......

2011-10-23T00:53:00.000+01:00

Another Wedding commission....

The family were asked to provide a photo of the happy couple but they only gave my friend 2 photo's - one of them was of just her, the other one was of both of them but she was looking away from the camera! So I had to use bits of both of them - I still wasn't completely happy as he looks like he has an arm coming out of his ear - but hey-ho, you can only work with the photo's you've got (or some saying similar to that!)

Lots of layers, lots of black, lots of white and a touch of silver - the colour combo I prefer to use when I don't know the Wedding colours!

A couple of challenges I'd like to link my card to......

Craft Room Challenge - Black & White

Creative Inspirations - Monochromatic (don't forget monochromatic doesn't mean Black & White, it means shades of the same colour - although Black & White is widely recognised as mono!)

Am I Cruel???

2011-10-22T01:43:00.001+01:00

I've had a few commissions to do this week and will start by showing you one of my favourite ones....

This was made for a friend in work for her mum. I've made a few cards for this lady so have to check back on old photos to make sure I don't use the same images (although I usually have a stash of 'unused' stamps etc so that's never really an issue!) or verse! (I always take a photo of the inside too so I have a record of the verse used)

This card uses a gorgeous Die-cut image from LOTV - I just love these images - and as much as I like to sit and colour images I find colouring to order not as pleasurable, so if I don't have what I want pre-coloured I love to get my file of LOTV die-cuts out.

I've used TH Vintage Shabby papers for the card (and box below), gorgeous flowers, corner detail and lace from WOC, MS Border and leaf punches. Some stunning silver (metal looking) 'gems' (bottom right) and some clear stone gems. And my fav at the moment ....staples!

Here's the box I made for it too - this was made with just 12x12 TH Shabby Chic papers - I did think it wasn't going to be sturdy enough as it's quite big (just under 12x12 actually!!!) but it worked really well and didn't need any additional card inside to stabilise it - which I was pleased about as I wasn't looking forward to having to cover the fab double sided papers!

I did end up tying off the ends of the ribbon into knots just to finish it off and I added a small version of the LOTV Die-cut image as a tag - but they were a bit of an 'after-thought' so I've not photographed them!

Well anyway it was 'mission accomplished' as I had a text off my friend earlier saying I'd made her Mother cry!

Am I a really cruel crafter to measures success in tears????

Some Challenges I worked to with this card.....

Pollycraft - Girls, Girls, Girls.

Sketch'n'Stash - Sketch and this time 'new' stash being the metal gems.

Lili of the Valley - Bingo - Gems, Distressing, Pins.

Crafty Catz - Happy Birthday (with sentiment)

Top Tip Tuesday #56 - Layers

2011-10-18T08:30:00.001+01:00

Good Top Tip Tuesday Morning

What gorgeous Designer Papers and Hand Made flowers you all made for us last week - they were all fabulous - thank you for your participation :)

This week we have more gorgeous prizes from more of our amazing sponsors...

Inky Impressions Rubber Stamps

Prize is $10 gift certificate

and

Stitchy Bear Stamps

Prize of a $10 voucher

This week we want to see

LAYERS

and we have another fab tutorial for you...

Bettina is showing us how to make a 'Pop-Up' card!

So 'Pop-Over' and join in :)

ABC Christmas - U is for .................

2011-10-12T08:00:00.001+01:00

ABC Christmas Challenge

Welcome to another ABC Christmas Challenge - weren't those Tiny projects gorgeous! Huge thanks to everyone who joined in - have you checked out the winner yet?

This fortnight's Challenge is...

U is for.................Unused!

We want to see your unused stash and please let us know in your post what that unused stash is.

This Weeks Sponsors

Simon Says Stamp

are offering one lucky entrant
$15 voucher to spend in store

AND

Bugaboo

Challenge Blog: http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/

My offering for the 'UNUSED' Challenge is ....

Unused papers - that I've had for about 3 years....and they still have the wrapper on!!!

Paired with a gorgeous image from Bugaboo called Cupcake Christmas Lights

I have distressed the edges of the papers, added some sparkle to the image piece and used some gorgeous glitter ribbon too. The sentiment was done on the PC using 'Kayliegh' font.

We really look forward to seeing your Christmas cards this week made with your UNUSED stash - and don't forget to let us know what that is!

Some Challenges I'd like to enter my card into.....

Papertake Weekly - 3 Shapes! ...Square, Rectangle & Circle.

Sentimental Sunday - Anything Goes

Cupcake Inspirations - Inspiration taken from colours

Stamptacular Sunday - So Distressing

Carol's Crafty Corner

TTT #69 - Valentine's

One lucky Random winner will win 7 Digi images for their choiceLook out for the awesome DT cards from 2 of the amazing Bugaboo girls below, and some yummy Bugaboo images for some of the TTT DT :)also sponsoring us...Robyn's FetishPrize given to the DT's favourite Top Tip linked to challenge:

ABC Christmas - B is for......................

I Need Some Printer Help Please!

TTT #68 - A Sketch or 2!

This week our challenge is......

Sketches

This week the Lovely Lisa is our Host and she has produced some awesome sketches for us to work from.

She has given us 2...

Layered or Clean and Simple - the Choice is yours.

Choose either, or do both!

Sketch 1: Layers

Sketch 2: Clean and Simple

You may rotate or flip the sketch, add a few extra embellishments or elements but please ensure the original sketch is clearly visible in your finished creation.

This weeks fabulous Sponsors are......

Stamp & Create

and

Karens Doodles

and

Sew Sweet

ABC Christmas - A is For.........................

TTT - #67 - Caught Our Eye!

Top Tip Tuesday #67 - Anything Goes!

Our fantastic Sponsors...

Simon Says Stamp

Simon Says Stamp is offering a $20 gift voucher to spend in their store!!&

Stamp Fairy

Crimson Cloud

Prize offered to 1 lucky winner is: 3 packs of die cuts.

TTT - Anything Goes!

ABC Christmas - Z is for.....

Top Tip Tuesday #65 - Anything Christmas

Top Tip Tuesday #64 - A Gift!

ABC Christmas - Y is for ...................

Top Tip Tuesday #63 - Let it Snow!

Top Tip Tuesday #62 - A Hint Of.....

Good Top Tip Tuesday Morning!

Colour Challenge

ABC Christmas - X if for..........

Top Tip Tuesday - #61

Top Tip Tuesday #60 - Tags!

Top Tip Tuesday #58

ABC Christmas - V is for..............

Top Tip Tuesday #57....

Another one of my Wedding cards......

Am I Cruel???

Top Tip Tuesday #56 - Layers

ABC Christmas - U is for .................

One lucky Random winner will win 7 Digi images for their choice

Look out for the awesome DT cards from 2 of the amazing Bugaboo girls below, and some yummy Bugaboo images for some of the TTT DT :)

also sponsoring us...

Robyn's Fetish
Prize given to the DT's favourite Top Tip linked to challenge:

Simon Says Stamp is offering a $20 gift voucher to spend in their store!!

&