So the challenge is on.....

On Thursday I challenged my Thursday Morning regulars to create a card for May's sketch challenge. I left them to play with my dies, stamps and other goodies and here's what they came up with....

Gill

Susan

Diane

Jennifer

Ruth

Alison

Some beautiful entries, I hope you agree. If you want to vote on the blog, just leave a comment with the person's name. Otherwise, they will all make an appearance on facebook in the order shown above for you to like and share.

If you have a creation to submit, just let me know.

Happy Crafting

x

It's Challenge Time!!!

As promised, it's the 1st May and time for a crafty challenge. This month, it's a sketch challenge and here is your layout:

I had to have a little play with the new Molly Blooms stamps, so I used it as an excuse to create something for inspiration purposes!!

I look forward to seeing your wonderful creations. To enter, just post a pic on facebook and a link to your blog here or email a photo and I'll do the work for you.

Up for grabs this month is a beautiful Marianne Designs Butterfly Die. So what have you got to lose!!

happy Crafting.

x

It's nearly the weekend....yay!

Another week has flown by and I managed to make it into the workshop today for a little card making sesh!

As my skills have progressed over the years, I find myself adding more and more and more embellishment/colour to every card. So today, I restricted myself......and it was hard, very very hard.

I stamped and coloured one of my favourite LOTV stamps and restricted myself to using the following promarkers:

Tan, Putty, Almond, Chestnut, Cocoa and Blender

So that the image's white card didn't look too stark, I used antique linen distress ink and played with my papers from My Minds Eye.

OK, so I've been a little bit slack and realised I haven't posted April's challenge. I've decided to wait until May now, so that everyone has a chance to make something. I can't believe how quickly the days are passing at the minute, but between Dr/Hospital/Work I don't seem to get a minute for myself any more. I am currently on with the very boring task of tax year end calculation for the business. How I wish it would just magically calculate itself!!

In between the boring stuff, Niamh decided we were to enter a Cake Decorating competition (gulp!) I don't think she realises that there are some very talented bakers out there and after a few weeks of making cakes, we probably don't stand a chance. But......here's how we got on:

First, we made a victoria sponge......

 Next we covered it with Pink Icing..

       Then we added white choc chip 

cupcakes with pink icing and a buttercream topping and a bunch of sugarpaste stars...

   and some more buttercream & stars

  and this is the finished product!

I have never spent so long on baking/creating a cake, but I am looking forward to demolishing it!!! (I did squash the top when I tried to cover it, but nobody gets to see that but!)

If you would like to support me (but mainly Niamh) in winning this competition, please follow this link and vote for the Star Cake Cupcake Crazy entry! https://www.facebook.com/MyCakeDecorating/app_115978431901938

Back on the Papercrafting front, I have had a go at scrapbooking this week. I don't think it will take over from my card making, but it was nice to do something a little different

My happy smiley family

The winner is.....

Well it's April already and Sketch Challenge #4 has ended. The winner is Jeanette Handley who received the most votes for her lovely male themed creation:

Jeanette wins a selection of Kanban's 'Get Britain Crafting' Toppers. Congratulations Jeanette!!

I am just putting the finishing touches to April's challenge, so watch this space.

On a separate note, I think my new hobby of baking is taking over! Over the last few weeks I have made 4 batches of cupcakes and a batch of sugar biscuits. All different flavours and all have been demolished in the blink of an eye!

Here are the creations so far....

Attempt number 1 using cake decorating magazines instructions:

Attempt number 2 using the same magazines instructions (This was to practice piping skills more than anything!):

Attempt 3 was free styling for Easter and my Mother In Law's birthday (starting to feel a bit more confident with the piping gun now!):

Attempt 4 - I'd bought some coloured Icing and some cookie cutters I wanted to play with:

and the last attempt was a recipe I found on a cupcake app and just had to try!! ( I did adapt it slightly as I thought chocolate drizzle topping would make it a bit different!) :

I have received several volunteers to sample the next batch, claiming they are willing guinea pigs until I master this new hobby and can call myself a 'proper' baker......strange how baked goods have this effect on people! The other suggestion is to branch out and consider a side line for Pink Pig. I'm not sure Pink Pig Cupcakes is all that inviting really, but certainly something to keep in mind.

Happy Crafting

New Gorjuss Goodies...

As a perfect follow on to the colouring tutorial, the new Gorjuss Stamps, Papers, Toppers and Ribbons have arrived! They are all so scrummy, that I think I will have to get playing with them straight away!!

Watch this space for some new creations.....but if you can't wait, hop over to www.pinkpigcrafts.co.uk to see the latest range.

Recently I subscribed to Cake Decorating magazine for Niamh. She regularly bakes with her Nana, so it seemed like a good idea as you get free stuff to create beautiful cakes and biscuits. What I thought would be a nice little hobby for Niamh has actually become a new hobby for me too. I can't believe how relaxing baking is. I don't like mess, so I never thought it would be up my street, but I'm so enjoying using the new gadgets. The piping tool they've sent looks like a silicone gun and as I have grown up in and around a DIY shop, I took to this tool like a duck to water!

Here's some of the creations me and Niamh have mustered up so far:

So between card making, cross stitching, baking and the actual job, I don't seem to have a lot of free time anymore....oooops....I'll have to try and fit some time in with the husband somewhere!

Don't forget you still have 4 days to submit an entry for this month's sketch challenge. the winner will be announced next week.

Happy Crafting

Colouring with Promarkers.....Gorjuss!

I seem to have had a few requests for cards using the Gorjuss stamp recently, so I thought it would be the perfect time to show a step by step colouring guide.

Start by Stamping your image with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

I started with the Hair, using Black, Cool Grey 5, Cool Grey 4 and Cool Grey 3

Decide where you want the darkest parts to be and start with the Black Promarker:

Next, use the Cool Grey 5 to come over the black and extend the colour a little past the black:

Do the same with Cool Grey 4:

and finally Cool Grey 3:

If you prefer a darker shade, use less Cool Grey 3 and increase the amount of the 3 other colours. You will find that you get a slightly different effect every time you do this.

Next, move onto the face. You need Saffron, Vanilla and Pastel Pink.

Start with the Saffron to add shadow under the Hairline and Chin, then use the Pastel Pink to add some colour to her cheeks:

Take the Vanilla Pen and go over the Saffron, Pastel Pink and remaining white space.

For the Jacket, I then used Chestnut and Cocoa. Using the same principles, lay down the darkest colour (chestnut) first, then go over and fill using the lightest colour (cocoa)

For the dress I decided to use Tan, Putty and Almond to stay with a slightly vintage feel. Use Tan first:

then putty:

then almond:

If you can see any sharp lines between the colours, use small circular motions with the lightest colour to blend the line. You will see the ink 'blur'. This is when the blend has taken.

Move on to the tights and Boots. 

I used Cool Grey 4 and 3 for some of the tights and Saffron and Vanilla for the rest. Use the darkest colour on each side of the legs, then fill with the lightest. This will make the legs look slightly rounded.

For the boots, use Chestnut and Cocoa again, follow the instructions for the tights to give a dimensional feel:

Finish by colouring the bow. I used Tan and Putty for the main, with chestnut spots:

You have now finished your image. I then used Antique Linen Distress Ink around the edges of the card to soften the white background. 

In keeping with the vintage look, I decided to use my lili of the valley nitwit papers and tag sentiments stamps, a 6x6 Kraft Card Blank, some Stampin Up! ribbon and Card......oh...and of course the obligatory bling!:

A beautiful and simple creation.

Happy Crafting

x