Mice and monkeys!

Hi all! Hope you all had a lovely weekend. I'm sorry I didn't get round to visiting many of you but I had a bit of a busy week last week. I'm starting training on Thursday for my new job! I had CFS for about 4 years (though thankfully only have occasional flare ups now) so I haven't worked for ages. Then last year just as I was getting better, I was thrown in at the deep end as I had to run my Dad's business when he passed away. We scaled back the business hugely so now I just do paperwork for the family business so am able to take on some other part time work. I'm really looking forward to doing something different though am a bit nervous!! Wish me luck!!

Anyway, enough of my ramblings, onto some cards.....

My first card is a birthday card for a male friend and is this using this cute Whipper Snapper stamp. I love how chilled out he looks! Wish I was where he is!!! I coloured the image with copics and then the shading around the edge is done with lyra pencils to give a softer effect. I love the writing, it's a Sizzix phrase set. I bought it in their Winter sale. By the way, have you seen my cute flip flop brad?!

I'd like to enter this for a number of challenges:

Cupcake Craft Challenges- sketch (rotated)

Paperplay Challenges- "Furry friends"

Copic Colour Challenge- "Blue, grey and green"

Crafty Catz- "Birthday card"

Paper Cutz Challenges- "Beach/summer"

Crafty Calender- "Keeping warm"

Sophisticats- "Spring/bright colours"

Here's my usual little close up to see a bit of copics shading. I still need practice but I'm definately improving!

Crafty stash: Stamp (Whipper Snapper); Copics; Lyra pencils; Nesties; Phrase die (Sizzix); Papers (Making Memories); Assorted cardstock; Brad (Poppicrafts)

And my second card of the day is also for a male birthday. I've got so many birthday cards to make at the mo!! This Changito monkey stamp I got for birthday or Christmas and have coloured with lyra pencils. I stamped a frame around him from the Doodley Frames set by Autumn Leaves which I love. The sentiments are both by Elzybells but from different sets- one is from the sheep set and the "hey buddy" is from the "missing you" set. The little sentiment holder (I know that's not the word I want but it escapes me!) is another little Sizzix bargain I got in their sale. I don't know if you can see but I cuttlebugged the strip across the middle.

Crafty stash used: Stamps (Stampendous, Elzybells, Autumn Leaves); Lyra pencils; Paper (?); Assorted cardstock; Nesties; Spot and Dots folder (Cuttlebug); Tag holder (Sizzix); Ribbon (recycled)

And for this card, I'd like to enter it into:

Friday Sketchers- sketch

Paperplay challenges- "Furry friends"

Crafty Catz- "Birthday card"

Sketchy colours- "Brown and turquoise"

Thanks for dropping by. Can't wait to see your creations this week x