The Stamping Bazaar.. ::Bikkie's Discovery::

Each Monday on The Stamping Bazaar Blog we showcase all the creations made by the DT for the coming week using images designed by Marina Neira for The Stamping Bazaar Store.

Each day of the week, members of our DT will be showcasing The Stamping Bazaar images on their creations. You will be able to pop by their blogs to see how they made their creations and follow the links to the image in the TSB Store. Details for the next DT members creation on the following day will also be listed.

I share Saturdays with Susan (one half of The Two Pink Ladies - be sure to stop by their blog to check out her creation), so here is my card for this week..

I have used a brand new image to TSB Store - Bikkie's Discovery - isn't he adorable?! I know I'm a week late what with an Easter creation now, but how could I say no to this little guy?! I have coloured him using ProMarkers - I LOVE the colour of his fur, he looks so smooth and silky - just as a Platypus should be. His dungarees and cap are just something else entirely - I wanna hug him!! I have used patterned paper from Comso Cricket - Mr Campy collection. Thee perfect paper collection for this little guy, there are loads of woodgrain patterned papers and papers with leaves and trees. The colours work so well for little boy cards too. My cardstock is from PTI in the colour Aqua Mist - so delicious, and such a great weight for a cardbase.

Here is a close up of the little guy and his 'Easter egg' discovery - I hope it tastes as good as it looks.

I added a sentiment I stamped with a Studio G alpha stamp set in SU! Old Olive and Soft Suede ink. I used some pinking scissors to cut the edges for some added interest. The stick pins I custom made using beads and pearls from eBay and Beads Unlimited. The corner leaves sticker is from the Cosmo Cricket collection and filled the empty space perfectly.

This is the inside of the card, again using elements from the Cosmo Cricket collection. The 'discovery' panel was perfect for this card, and again I used some leaf stickers behind a Kraft panel I cut using spellbinders nesties Labels Two die.

Be sure to stop by Tash and Tinas blogs tomorrow to see what fabulous inspiration they've got to share with you all. I KNOW you won't be disappointed!

Don't forget to call again at The Stamping Bazaar Blog on Monday to see next weeks creations, and on Wednesday for our regular Special Designer Guest Spot.

I would like to enter this card into these challenges:

× Creative Craft Challenges - Get Recycling (Corrugated Cardboard)

× Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

× Top Tip Tuesday - Open Challenge

× Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes

× House of Gilli - Lots of Layers and Stitching

Thank you for stopping by today - enjoy the rest of your weekend! :) xo

Guest Designer at CSAYL

Hey guys, thanks for stopping by today. I have something special to share with you all. I won a GDT place over at CSAYL with a card I entered a few weeks ago. If you're a regular to my blog you will know that I was full of good intentions with my Christmas Crunch Sunday posts - but it appears that that has slowly ground to a halt. What with other DT commitments and the mountain of uni work I got going on, I just haven't had the time to keep on producing the Christmas cards I love. So when MacKenzie told me I had won a GDT place I was thrilled. It was the perfect excuse to get those creative Christmas juices flowing again!!

The challenge this week over at CSAYL is.. "Make Us Laugh" - use a funny or clever sentiment on your holiday project. I thought long and hard about this one - as I really wanted a witty sentiment, not quite sure if that is what I achieved in the end.. LOL.

The sponsor is Pink Cat Studio and the WINNER will receive 5 free digi images of their choice!

Now, onto my card. If you have arrived here from the CSAYL blog - please let me apologise for the quality of my pictures over there! They were taken in such a rush and I was so annoyed with myself that I had to retake them. So here are the better versions.. LOL.

This is my first ever gatefold card. I've seen loads of these about lately and really fancied giving it a go. So here we have it!! They're such fun to decorate - they have more panels than the standard card, obviously. It may sound sad, but I like the process of measuring the patterned paper and cutting it to size to mat and layer! I have used Basic Grey - Eskimo Kisses collection. I've so much of this left, I must stop hoarding stuff - otherwise I'll never have any room for new stash!! I have stitched the patterned paper onto some green Core'dinations cardstock just for something different. The pink Twill Stripe ribbon is from The Ribbon Girl, I have it in all of the colours they offer, it's too yummy!!

The cute little image is Itty Bitty Betty Ice Skating from Pink Cat Studio, I have coloured her using ProMarkers and added some Stickles here and there - isn't she cute? I fussy cut her out and then layered her on top of some nesties in cardstock colours which coordinate with the patterned paper. I printed the sentiment from Word and cut it into sections.

Here is the inside of the card - can you see what I was saying about the panels? So fun. I have used a Sizzix EF for Basic Grey called Snow Cap - which coordinates with this patterned paper. Can you see the design like the one on the patterned paper on the front of the card? Although this EF is Christmas themed I use it all the time - it is such a unique pattern and so versatile. I have cut a panel for a message using nesties and added a cute little rub on Poinsettia from the Eskimo Kisses collection.

So my sentiment reads "Mail your packages early, so the post office can lose them in time for Christmas". Funny, right? Well.. depending which way you look at it!

I would like to enter this card into these challenges:
× Divas by Design - #1 Anything Goes
× Cupcake Craft Challenges - Something Beginning with C - Christmas?!
× House of Gilli - Lots of Layers and Stitching
× Make It Monday - Anything Goes #35
× Pollycraft Monday - #91 Anything Goes
× Stamping Scrapping Challenge - Anything Goes
× Stamp with Fun - #109 Lace or Ribbon

Be sure to head on over to CSAYL and join in with the festive fun. I look forward to reading your funny sentiments!! xo Lou.

Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge #18 - Sketch Challenge

Hey there, thanks for stopping by today.. and just incase you're wondering what the hell is going on.. I won a GDT place over at Tickled Pink Stamps at the end of last month. SO FREAKIN' EXCITED!! I didn't think I stood a chance, but hey.. I was one of the lucky few picked. So here I am..

My first card as part of this uber talented team.. is for a SKETCH challenge - my FAVE!! Here is the sketch you guys can follow..

Here is my take on the sketch..

I used Lil' Pinkette Pippa, who is available HERE. Isn't she a cutie? Perfect for all sorts of cards with her bunch of flowers and cute pose!! I have coloured her using ProMarkers and fussy cut around her. I've used an oooold paper collection - Dear Lizzy from American Crafts. See, told ya I was serious about using this stuff up. If I carry on hoarding stuff I'll never have room for new stash, right!?

The butterflies are made using a MS punch, the 'My Sunshine' flair is from the same AC collection and the green grosgrain along the bottom is from The Ribbon Girl. I have stitched all of the layers using my trusty little Janome! :)

A pretty simple card this time round for me - but I wanted all the focus to be on Pippa the c-yootie!!

I would like to enter this card into these challenges:

× Divas by Design - Anything Goes
× My Mum's Craft Shop - #4 Cute and Girly
× Clear It Out Tuesday - Ribbon/ Trim
× Ladybug Crafts Ink - #26 Going Dotty
× Amber's Crafts and Stuff - #8 Special Lady

Head on over to Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge Blog to check out the rest of the gorgeous creations from the DT! You will be blown away - trust me, I always am!! xo

P.S I would just like to thank all the ladies for having my on board <3 - I know I'm going to have a blast during my time here!

Lexi's Creations - Challenge #39 - Friendship Card

Hey guys, thanks for stopping by today. It was great to see all your projects last fortnight, the 'anything but a card' theme really took off! Some interesting stuff going on - it was great fun to go around and see the more creative side of all you crafters! Congratulations to the Winner #10 Samantha and GD #37 Carrie.

The sponsor this week is Letraset.. and the prize up for grabs is a set of ProMarkers.

This fortnight the challenge is 'FRIENDSHIP CARD'. Take that any way you wish, I have gone for a 'friend' themed sentiment and I have used it along side Chrissie with her rollerskates - how sweet is she? I LOVE her hair.

'As Friends.. We Roll Together'

I have coloured Chrissie using ProMarkers, as always. I'm really liking the shading I have on her brown pants. Not a line in sight - all very well blended together, even if I do say so myself. Perhaps all the practicing I have done lately is paying off?

I designed the sentiment myself in Word, printed it and then created two seperate banners. I created the 'banner', 'flag' whatever you want to call it.. end, using my the cornre of my square punch. Really quick and easy.

Her blonde hair has so much more definition IRL, the photos haven't picked it up well at all. I used Vanilla, Cocoa and Ivory. There are so many ProMarker tutorials out there, especially for skin and hair. So many tutorials, so little time. I really like this colour combo for blonde hair, it looks a lot more natural than others I have seen. Obviously I need to add a little more depth in the darker areas for it to show up on photos.

As I have said in previous posts - I have really taken a liking to decorating the inside of my cards - even with something as small as a journal card from the collection I have used on the front of the card. And before anyone asks questions, the white stripe down the right hand side is either purposeful or a mistake by the manufacturer!! LOL. Not!! Me.

I would like to enter this card into these challenges:
× Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Anything Goes
× Moving Along With The Times - Anything Goes
× The Paper Crafting Journey - Bling
× Pixie Dust Studio - Let's Play
× Amber's Crafts and Stuff - Use a Digi Stamp
× Creative Card Crew - Child's Play
× Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Head on over to Lexi's Creations now to see what the rest of the talented ladies have come up with! :D xo

Dream, Imagine, Love

Hey guys, thank you so much for stopping by today, I have something very special to share with you.. MY FIRST EVER POST AS GDT MEMBER FOR SIMPLY SASSY! I cannot even begin so describe HOW FREAKIN' EXCITED I AM!!

Anywho.. :/ Here goes.. please bare with me..

I used the new 'Carnival Balloon' from Set #6 which can be found over at Funky Kits HERE. Is she not the cutest? There are so many occasions she could be used for. This time round I went with an 'inspiring' sort of card. I have used Basic Grey's Max and Whiskers patterned paper, rub ons and brads. I have added each of the gems by hand in a swirl using Tombow Mono adhesive - I swear by the stufff.

The yummy flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts, and I have used them alongside some Prima flowers. I have added some waxed thread and pearls to make them unique to the card. Other embellishments include lemon organza ribbon, rub ons and brads from the Max and Whiskers collection, a TH Philosophy tag and a orange gromet from my stash. The 'DREAM' sentiment has been stamped using an alpha stamp set from Studio G - the letters are the perfect size for cards.

Here is a close up of the Simply Sassy - Carnival Balloon. I have coloured her using Promarkers and also paper pieced sections of her dress and balloon:

Skin: Ivory, Blush, Saffron, Baby Pink

Eyes: Cornflower, Midnight Blue

Hair: Vanilla, Cocoa

Flowers in her hair: Pastel Blue, Duck Egg, Mango, Mandarin

Clothes and Shoes: Pastel Blue, Duck Egg, Denim Blue, Tulip Yellow, Mustard, Pastel Yellow Mango, Mandarin

Balloon: Pastel Blue, Duck Egg, Denim Blue, Mango, Mandarin

I would like to enter this card into these challenges:

× Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes

× Tuesday Throwdown - Must Use Brads or Eyelets

× DDH - Paper Piecing

× Ooh La La Creations - Aqua, Bling and a Sentiment

× Sparkles Forum - Anything Goes

× The Crazy Challenge - Use 3 Different Papers

Enjoy what is left of the weekend! :) xo