If music be the food of love.......

Good morning all

We have a lovely theme for our new challenge at 

The Paper Shelter 

my very favourite thing in the world 

(I think even more than crafting)

is music : )

and so that is our this weeks theme

Music

I've always loved music, when I was young I sang, followed the charts, had my favourite artists, fell asleep listening to radio Luxemburg under my pillow....

now my relationship with music is different,  I still sing - anywhere and everywhere!  But my love of current music is not so great, some I like, some not so much! - But I still have my favourites, love to drive along with the radio playing, love live concerts.
This week I've been lucky to get tickets to two fabulous concerts
- my first this year!  I was giving up hope of seeing anyone.  

The first is Barbra Streisand  just announced last week and I was thrilled to learn that she is appearing at an arena in Tampa Florida when we go in November.  I haven't seen her live before -  she has been one of my all time favorites for ever! - This week I've been singing Evergreen at the top of my voice all over the house!! - just as well I have a fabulous singing voice lol.

The second one is David Gray at the Sage in Gateshead.  

A fabulous venue for this type of performance - It's an acoustic performance

I've seen him twice before and each time he was just fabulous - just as good live as on a recording.  That's just before Christmas so the Sage will be decorated for the season - I'm excited already!!

but I digress - back to the challenge and my card

Instead of  one of the lovely images from TPS I decided to use one of the paper sets

this one is called Spring Song available HERE.  It  has a lovely music print on it, and I've teamed it with music themed die cuts and pretty embellies to fit the theme

As always there is a fab prize on offer at TPS

Hope you'll play along with us

This is what I did

Papers - Spring Song 6x6 paper set

Die cut butterfly - Sheen Douglas perfect partners

Die cut musical notes and corners - MFT

Die cut lantern - Kimono from Crafter's Companion

Celebrate die cut - Sara's signature collection at Crafter's Companion

Die cut swirls - Sara's signature Collection from Crafters Companion

Die cut heart - Entwined collection by Leonie Pujol at Crafter's Companion

Sparkler - the hobby house

Ribbon and pearl from stash

Kraft Card - Crafter's Companion

Hope you'll join in with our challenge this week

Hugs
Judith x

Thought for the day! Even if you start now how many cards could you make by Christmas!

Good morning all

Sorry I don't know what happened to my yesterday's post (well I do it was still in draft!!) 

- here it is!!

Today is a new challenge day over at

Fab'n'Funky Challenges

and the theme is 

Christmas

So  I I ask the question in a different way!

Have you got time to make all your Christmas cards this year - how many have you made already!!

If you're anything like me 

you will have started off with good intentions in January 

and on that strategy I now have maybe a 15 or 20 cards 

- but none of my special cards have been made and I certainly don't have enough.  

In reality there's a lot of work to be done between now and Christmas card D - day, 

- thats maybe 8 or 9 weeks time?-

 so with that in mind how many do you need to make each week?

Have I scared you enough to go and make a card and enter it in our challenge this week 

- I hope so lol

Here's mine made with a fab little precoloured image called

Christmas stocking - available here

We also have the incentive of  great prize this week 

provided by our sponsor 

The Paper Shelter

I love this vintage style of card, some darker toned papers and distress ink - based on kraft card and you have the basics of a card.  This one was quite quick to make as the image is one of the precoloured ones - great for all those cards you're going to have to make, 

another tip.... 

- never make a card once always duplicate it as the hardest part is the design, you don't even have to use the same image just repeat the design and you have two cards in super quick time 

- I really should take my own advice!!

Here's what I did....

Image - Christmas Stocking from TPS

Papers - 6 x6 from Sara's Signature Traditional Christmas from Crafters Companion

Kraft Card - Crafters Companion

Distress ink - TH Gathered twigs and Tea dye

Die cuts - words -Christmas words from Sizzix by TH 

Holly sprig die from Wild Rose crafts

Label dies - MFT

Poinsettia die - Memory box

Sparkler from the Hobby house

Bells were I think papermania embellies

Wooden stars, gems, ribbon and twine from my stash

Hope to see a flood of Christmas cardsthis week at Fab'n'Funky Challenges from you my crafty friends - and I'm going to keep plugging away from now til Christmas!

Challengesi'm entering

Rudolph days - Christmas anything goes
Aud sentiments - Anything goes

hugs

Judith xx

Summer break is here - so anything goes!!

Good morning all

Its challenge time again at 

The Paper Shelter

It's our summer break for the next two weeks and the challenge will be running for two weeks instead of one - with the theme

Anything Goes

I decided to do something a bit different to my usual card - using two png images and merging to make this card, then fussy cutting the image of the girl and mounting again with 3D gel
 the images used are

 Vintage Closet

and Mad about Shoes

as usual there's a great prize up for grabs

This is what I did....

Images - pre coloured images png files Mad about Shoes and Vintage Closet

Background paper is the paper for Vintage closet

Kraft card - Crafters companion

Pierced noble square dies - Sue Wilson for creative Expressions

Happy Birthday die - Tattered Lace

birdcage and manequin di - Kimono from crafters companion

Butterfly dies - flutterby from Sara Davies Butterfly Lullaby collection

Flower and vine dies - from Leonie Pujol's entwined funky heart die

Butterflies and vines/flowers coloured with spectrum noir pens

Distress inking - TH rusty hinge and tattered rose

Gilding wax on dies - pebeo copper 

Hope we see you playing along for our Anything Goes challenge - what are you waiting for! - I'll see you there!

Hugs

Judith x

Another sneaky little Christmas card!

Good morning all

It's challenge day for me again at 

Winter Wonderland
(another chance to make another card for the Christmas pile!)

our theme this week is 

Punches and Dies
or 
add a charm

- always an easy one

using Well wrapped up from The Paper Shelter
available here

We are being sponsored this week by 

The Paper Shelter

a real favourite of mine 

(I've been on the DT for years!!)

The thing I like best about the images you get at TPS is that there are always line drawings, coloured versions and matching papers for each image and that gives you great choice when it comes to making projects.

For my card I decided to take the quick and easy option and use the precoloured image and matching paper to layer up, I fussy cut around the image and went around the image and the paper edges with gathered twigs DI then I mounted her with 3d glue gel, added some die cuts to embellish and a liberal slathering (don't you just love that word!!) of glitter jewels over the dies - and voila a quick and easy card!!  There are a certain number of images from TPS that really work well for this method and the image just stands out so well on the card, I really like the effect.

This is what I did....

Image and papers - well wrapped up from TPS

Dies snowflake border - memory box
        tree - mariannes
        winter words - by tim holtz for sizzix 

Glitter jewels  from creative expressions
Distress ink - gathered twigs from Tim Holtz

Hope you'll join in with us at Winter Wonderland Challenge this week 

Hugs

Judith

For the boys - at The Paper Shelter

Good Morning all

We have a lovely new challenge at 

The Paper Shelter 

one that we either love or hate -projects for boys!

myself I love cards for boys -soooo we want to see what you can make

For the Boys

I used a cute little racing driver image called

My Racing Car available here

As always we have a fab prize

This is what I did.....

Image - my racing car from TPS - cut twice to layer 3d style
Papers MME fine and dandy boy
Die - happy birthday from tattered lace (cut twice)
Card - American Crafts
Stitched circle die - lawn fawn
Pierced border - from MFT blueprints 15

hope we'll see you at TPS this week

hugs
judith x

Spring has sprung - well sort of!

Morning all

It's challenge day at 

The Paper Shelter 

and we have the lovely theme of 

Spring

I decided to go a bit arty and chose this lovely image 

called the Huntress available here

I was starting to wish I hadn't bothered by the end of this card - I can''t remember a card causing me quite so much trouble - ever!!  It started off ok and I cut my papers and dies and everything was ready just to mount the image and I decided to colour her with pencils - I think that was my first mistake because it was looking too pale and I didn't like it all that much but I thought I'd carry on and see what happened! After an hour or so I got to a stage that I quite liked and was going to call it a day and finish off the card.  Only thing was I had cut my little finger on the edge of a large die earlier (beware of sharp dies!!) and only had a small plaster in the cupboard to cover the cut.  As I pulled my hand away the plaster came off and splodged streaks of blood right down my colouring - I could have cried! - and there was no way I could rescue it.  I left it for the night and started again (by then I was very late - sorry Shirley!!) and changed to watercolour pencils, sparkle pens with a background of Aquatints.  I think I must be getting hard to please because I didn't really like that either!!  I was going to just change to the precoloured image and give up but when I looked at it it was too pale for my otherwise finished card base - so went back and had another play and it ended up like this - the gold sparkle pen rescued it quite a bit!! - it's ok- ish - just not what I imagined when I started off.  Think I'll go back to print cut and stick cards lol

As always we have a great prize on offer at TPS

Here's what I did...

Image the huntress from TPS

Coloured with Spectrum noir watercolour pencils and Sparkle pens

Background created with Aquatints - (Blue, white and gold) and a touch of green sparkle pen

Papers - gilded Christmas from First edition

Card - Crafters companion Mat black and old gold centura pearl

Dies - Ivy - Sheena's perfect partners festive fancies - Ivy 

           Flowers - from Sara Davies floral delights signature collection 

Gilding wax - pebeo - old gold and copper

Hope we see you at TPS Challenge this week

Challenges I'm entering with this card

Creative card crew - die cuts 17/04
Die cutting divas - sports (hunting/shooting bow and arrow) 11/04
TTCRD - anything goes 13/04
Make my monday challenge - watercolour 11/04

hugs

Judith x

Good morning all

Well I think spring is finally in the air and the days are a little warmer

and we even have Sunshine!!

And today we have a new challenge starting at

The Paper Shelter

 our theme is a very seasonal one

Easter

I used this lovely image that I've have for ages but never used 

I think it has a very vintage feel to it and I tried to reflect that in my card

the image is called My Sweet Mommy and is available HERE

I coloured the image to get a very soft feel with Spectrum Noir blendable pencils

as always we have a fabulous prize at TPS

This is what I did....

7x7 inch card

Image - My Sweet Mommy from The Paper Shelter

Coloured with Spectrum Noir blendable pencils

Colours - vintage blue, maroon, raspberry,saddle brown,sorbet,antique rose,nectarine,pink blush,jade,pistachio,canary,lemon

Papers - First Edition spring feast (including all the plain colours)

Embossing folder - Die'sire embossalicious vintage floral, Floral wonder

Dies - Sara Davies signature collection floral delights - leafy flourish and pretty petals

Pearls  and sentiment stamp from my stash 

Teal card - Core'dnations TH distress card 

hope you'll come and share your Easter cards with us this week - I've seen some lovely ones about this week

Challenges I'm entering with this card

Deep ocean challenge -favourite colour combo - I love pink yellow and blue 04/04
digi choosday - flower frenzy - 12/04
inky chics - happy easter 01/04
whimsy inspires challenge - spring or easter colours 16/04

hugs

judith x

Well it's confirmed- I'm away with the fairies!!

Good morning all

Well what a busy week I've had so far - my feet haven't touched the floor!

and I've really just made this challenge by the skin of my teeth

We have a great new challenge over at 

The Paper Shelter

the theme is 

Away with the Fairies

there are so many pretty fairies available at TPS

I chose to use the pretty

Fairy Emma - available here

I made the gorgeous fairy the main focus of the card just adding a couple die cuts 

As always we have a great prize on offer at TPS

I coloured her with my Spectrum Noir pens a touch of Spectrum noir colour blend pencils and used Spectrum Noir Sparkle pens to add what every fairy needs - Sparkle!

Here's what i did

Image - Fairy Emma from TPS

Coloured with spectrum noir Pens and spectrum Sparkle pens and colour blend pencil

colours -SN pens FS1,7,TN1,2, BP 1, TB3, PP1,4,6, CT1,GB1, CT1,4, LY1,2

SN Colourblend pencil - cherry red

SN Sparkle pens - gold and clear

Sentiment LOTV

Papers - LOTV birdie lane

Dies all die'sire from crafters companion, coloured with TH DI - Worn Lipstick and Shabby Shutters

Gems from my stash

We're celebrating LoVe at Fab'n'Funky Challenges this week

Hi all

Sorry I'm a bit late with my post today we've got a few things going on with very poorly people in our family at the moment and it's been a bad couple of days - but better late than never

I'm here to share my DT card for 

Fab'n'Funky Challenges 

our theme this week chosen and hosted by our lovely Jan is

LOVE

I decided to make this into a Mothers Day card project - I'm a bit loved out with the recent Valentines makes so thought it would make a good compromise - and it still fits the theme with the papers I've chosen

This card was made using the image from a paper pack from TPS

Called Two shades of Romance available HERE

The papers are as the name suggests - only two shades - but I printed it in two sizes onto Crafter's Companion Watercolour card and coloured the lovely vintage floral design with my Spectrum Noir Watercolour pencils, and I have to say I was rather pleased with the result! - it was very easy to do as the images are so well drawn with shading anyway.

The DT were lucky enough to be able to work with images from our lovely sponsor this week

The Paper Shelter

Why not check out the blog at Fab'n'Funky and see all the great makes the girls have come up with for your inspiration this week

This is what I did

Image - from Two shades of romance paper set (8 papers in the set)

Coloured with Spectrum Noir Watercolour pencils Colours used : 

 - Petunia, Persimmon, Papaya, Oregano, Rose, Pineapple, Hyacinth, Ebony
Sparkle added with Spectrum Noir clear sparkle pen

Butterfly - Sheena Douglass perfect partners die and stamp

Heart Die - from Sara Davies Love  signature collection

Letters cut with Sizzix TH Vintage Market strip die 

Black card

Watercolour card 

Core'dinations TH Colours card in Dusty concorde

Embossalicious Embossing folder from Crafters Companion - Vintage floral wonder

Ribbons from my stash

We have a fun Animal challenge at The Paper Shelter

Good morning all

It's time for a new challenge at 

The Paper Shelter

and this week the theme is

Animals

as Easter is just around the corner I couldn't resist  making a card using 

Little Easter Bunnies from TPS -available here

I've had a busy couple of weeks and decided to use one of the pre coloured images from The Paper Shelter to make my card and add a few die cuts and ribbon - just to make it my own!

as always there's a great prize on offer at our challenge

This is what I did....

Image - Precoloured little Easte bunnies from The Paper Shelter

Papers - Spring Drop from First Edition

Pierced frame die - made with Creative expressions pierced noble square dies (Sue Wilson)

Die cut letters - TH Vintage Market dies from Sizzix

Heart banner - Lala land die

Pink card and ribbon from my stash

Hope you'll join in with us at TPS this week

Hugs

Judith x

To the moon and back ......at The Paper Shelter

Good morning all

It's challenge day again at 

The Paper Shelter

this week is an easy challenge
(given the time of year)

The theme is

Be My Valentine

I decided to use a lovely image from TPS called

Moon Goddess available here

Not traditionally Valentine's at all I don't think, but the image made me think of the - I love you to the moon and back - saying, so that's where the inspiration came from.  I teamed her up with lots of hearts and hey presto - she's a Valentine card!! - I coloured her with Spectrum Noir Pens and pencils and used distress inks to shade the sky and the embossed heart card

and the inside

As always e have a fabulous prize on offer this week

This is what I did....

Image Moon Goddess from the Paper Shelter

Coloured with Spectrum noir Pens and Pencils and TH Distress inks

Paper - LOTV

Embossing Folder - Sarah Davies Love and Romance collection

I and die from Sarah Davies love and Romance collection

Love die - Sizzix

Embossed heart die from Sarah Davies Love and Romance collection

Small double heart die - sizzix

Craft card and Centura pearl card - Crafter's Companion

Circle and Scalloped Circle dies - Spellbinders Grand nesties
letters inside - cut from sizzix TH Wanted strip die

Hope you'll join in with our challenge this week

Challenges I'm entering with this card

Frilly and funky - Love is in the air
Deep ocean challenge - hearts
Digi Chooseday - all you need is love

Hugs

Judith x

We want to see winter sports at Fab'n'Funky this week!

Good morning all

we have a new challenge starting at 

The Paper Shelter

The theme this week is

Winter Sport

I used this pretty image called

The Beautiful Skier

available here

She was coloured with my Spectrum Noir markers and pencils  and also a few touches with Spectrum Sparkle pens - just for a wintry look

I'm starting to think I'm more than a bit clumsy (and lucky !) making this card.  Shall I just say it repaired very well lol -  I dropped a black marker on her - and successfullfy removed with the blender pen (phew) I then dropped a huge blob of collall tacky glue in the middle of the card as I was sticking the bow on - fortunately that came off too - what a disaster!!

As always there's a great prize on offer

This is what I did....

Image - the beautiful skier

Coloured with spectrum noir pens and spectrum sparkle pens and Spectrum noir pencils
Pens FS1,3,TN3  PP4,BP1,3  BGR1,2,3,5 BG1
Pencils 26,115,116,120
Sparkle pen - clear

Papers (very old!) DCWV Christmas stack

Black Card

Frostyville wreath die from Memory box

Sentiment from Crafter's Companions Nordic Christmas stamp - Cool Christmas

Tag dies - MFT
Star border die - Memory box

Slight shading round the edges - TH spun sugar DI

Ribbon and sparkle dots from my stash

This could be a great start to your Christmas makes for this year - hope you'll join in with us

I'll be back later with another wintry card - for the Christmas challenge over at Fab'n'Funky

Challenges I'm entering with this card 

Double ds - a winter theme 

Creative moments - anything goes - optional winter theme
Rudolph day - Anything Christmas
Inky Impressions - all about the border

see you soon!

Hugs Judith x 

Do You have any January Blues? - colouring denim could be the answer

Good morning all

If you have January Blues I have just the place for you!

We have a new challenge at 

The Paper Shelter

and the theme is 

Blues

Here's my DT card for your inspiration

using the image Casual Boy available HERE

I love colouring this type of boy image - when I first learned how to colour with pens and pencils it was denim blue that I first mastered, it still amazes me today how a grey pencil can transform some reasonable blue colouring into something that looks like denim jeans!

As always we have a fab prize on offer this week at TPS

This is what I did

Image - Casualboy from TPS

Coloured with Spectrum Noir pens and pencils

Papers - Father knows best from LOTV

Kraft card - Crafters companion

Pierced dies - Pierced noble squares and rectangles from Sue Wilson at Creative Expressions

Corner dies - MFT

Happy birthday die - Tatterred lace

Of course it doesn't have to be a boy card that you create - it could be a pretty blue floral, or anything else - as long as it is a predominantly blue card.  i look forward to seeing what you create

Challenges i'm entering with this card

The Male room - anything goes 19/1
cardz 4 guyz- happy birthday 18/1
digi chooseday - cool blues 26/1

Hugs

Judith x

Blog hop to celebrate our 5th birthday at The Paper Shelter

Good Morning all

Welcome to The Paper Shelter Blog Hop 

this is to celebrate our 5th Birthday on December 8th.

 It will be a two week Challenge and  Design Teams A and B are taking part.

The Hop is our way of inviting you to join in to celebrate and the theme is

 "A Special Birthday" 

because it's our special birthday!!!

If you have landed here from Anna's Blog then you're heading in the right direction - if not then you'll want to head on back to The Paper Shelter Challenge Blog to start again,

 as you'll not want to miss out on this one! 

Our Design Team have worked very hard and are showcasing the gorgeous images available from The Paper Shelter Website

 and each blog on the hop is offering one lucky commenter a digi of their choice 

as well as the main prize, details of which are on 

The Paper Shelter Challenge Blogspot.

Here's my card using my favourite image from TPS called

In the 20's 

This one one of the first images I ever used when I joined the design team at The Paper Shelter almost 3 years ago - where has the time gone! I still love this little girlie she's so pretty and I love her hat (infact I have one just like it!- in black) 

This is what i did

Image - In the 20's available from the Paper Shelter

Coloured with Spectrum Noir pens and Pencils

Papers - First Edition Spring Drop

Frame die - Spellbinders

Flower and leaf and button dies from - MFT blueprints 16

Sentiment - LOTV tags

The next blog on the hop is Marianne's blog

I know she has a special treat in store for you there!

now go on hop hop hop!!

Hugs

Judith xx

It's Christmas at The Paper Shelter - hooray!

Good morning all

We have a lovely Christmas card challenge for you this week 

at

The Paper Shelter

Come on bring out your 

Christmas Cards

If you haven't started on Christmas cards yet you really should!!

there are some gorgeous girly images at TPS 

(as well as cute and traditional ones too)

I chose to use the lovely 

Christmas Decorations - available here

she has such a lovely vintage style to her I think 

so i used that as inspiration for my card

As usual I coloured her with my Spectrum Noir pens and pencils - my favourite medium

We have the same old fabulous prize at the Paper Shelter this week

Here's what I did...

Image - Christmas decorations from TPS

Coloured with Spectrum Noir pens and pencils

Pinecone die - britannia dies

Papers - MME 

Ribbon - Carnmeal Cottage

Button embellie - Creative expressions

Gem embellie - jollies at Michaels

Hope you'll come over to TPS and share your Christmas creations 

Hugs

Judith x

We're travelling at the Paper shelter this week

Good morning all

Stupid blogger - this was scheduled for 9am today (and still is!) - why did you not post it!!

It's time for another challenge at 

The Paper Shelter 

with a a theme very appropriate for me!

Travel

I'm off on my hollies this week to Florida - to visit all those fun places and to do my Christmas shopping at the sales!  My daughter and her family are also coming with us and we are so looking forward to going to Mickeys Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom with our Grandson Jacob who will be 4 next month - just a perfect age for Santa and Mickey and all those other fantasies that are just wonderful through the eyes of a small child.  I just hope he enjoys it as much as we will!!

But I digress - I decided to make a Christmas card for this challenge using the cute image

Are You Ready My Friend available here

just a perfectly lovely image of Santa and Rudolf getting ready for their travels on Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve - and I even found his little sleigh to add to the corner of the card!

You can choose any form of travel for this challenge - it could be a form of transport such as a car or train, walking or running or even going on hoilday or perhaps as I have chosen Santa's travels!

What i did ...

Image - pecoloured Are you ready my friend from TPS

Papers - Dovecraft rafyt Christmas

Red card - papermania Christmas 8x8 textured cardstock

Kraft card nd Blak card - Crafter's Companion

Dies - all Marriannes (except spellbinders circles)

Distress ink - TH tea dye

Glitter - Stickles diamond

We are looking forward to seeing what you create for our challenge this week!

hugs 

Judith xx

We have a Halloween challenge at The Paper Shelter this week

Good morning all

I'm back today with my creation made for 

The Paper Shelter Challenge

We have a new challenge starting today 

with the very topical theme of 

Halloween

I still haven't got myself back up and crafting properly after my fall - luckily I had a couple of projects in hand and I did motivate myself to colour one image last weekend (big deal!)- but to be honest I'm still very achy and just so exhausted.  By the time evening comes when I would normally sit down and do some crafting - I just sit down and go to sleep instead!!!.   I really have so much that I should be doing and I'm starting to panic EEK - Christmas is coming!!

Anyway less of my moaning on 

I have a treat bag to share that I made for my grandson when he call round on Halloween night

I used the precoloured version of the image

Halloween night - available here

I printed it several times and layerd up some of the elements -though it doesn't show to well here.

I added a set of Halloween embellies for Jollies that I picked up in a sale basket at Michaels last year, a ribbon and die cut a BOO! - just for good measure - a quick and east make!

As always we have a fabulous prize on offer at TPS

for the winner of our challenge

I hope you'll come and join in with our challenge this week

Challenges I'm entering with this project...

Rubies Rainbow - birds of a feather (9/11)

lil red wagon - halloween creatures/characters (4/11)

Die cutting divas - Halloween with a die cut (2/11)

Fan tastic tuesday - anything goes with a hallowen twist (3/11)

Hugs

Judith xx

We're looking for men at the Paper Shelter!!

Good morning all

It's challenge time again at

The Paper Shelter

and our theme is a masculine one

For the Man in Your Life

I decided to use this cute Autumn themed image 

called Autumn Joy - available here

I've been practicing with my Spectrum Noir Aquamarkers

and I'm loving the soft watercolour effect 

 it's so easy too - though lots of room for more practice!!

as always we have a fabulous prize on offer at TPS

This is what I did ...

image - Autumn Joy from the Paper shelter
Coloured with Spectrum Noir Aquamarkers
colours - skin peach
hair - chestnut, desert
Clothes - slate, tan, moss
dog - tan
Leaves and grass - leaf green, marigold, moss, tan
background - aquamarine, leaf green
Papers and sentiment - Vintage rose garden from couture creations
Leaves and acorn stamps and dies - from Sheena Douglas perfect Partners
Ribbon from my stash
Card - Bazzill basics
Card base made with crafters companion Kraft card
Distress ink - frayed burlap

hope we'll see you playing at TPS this week

hugs Judith xx