Tuesday 19 January 2010

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:

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


23 comments:

Sue said...

Hi steph
two great cards hun, luv the image fabby papers hun, wishing you all the best in your new job hun, sue,x

CRAZYCRAFTSHED said...

Hi Steph
Both cards are fabulous,thankyou for joining us at CraftyCatz for this week's challenge,
Hugs Dianne xx

Lil Daffodil said...

Hi steph,
Two fantastic cards. Both so colourful with really sweet images and great colouring.
Hugs,
Fiona x

Jules said...

Hi Steph

I wish you all the luck in the world.

I hate starting new jobs and give myself torture treatment until I know what I am doing - so once again I know how you feel.

I love your cards.

Both are gorgeous.

Love Jules xx

Helen Dooley said...

He is a dream. Thanks for warming us at PCC this week.

Lisa said...

Hi Steph, Great cards! I love the cute images and fab papers.

Thanks for joining us at the Crafty Calendar Challenge.

Lisa x

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the job Steph, what will you be doing?

Linda Brun said...

Both cards look fantastic. Love the flip flop brad...Never seen that before..
Hugs

mckinkle said...

ooh two fab male cards Steph, so lovely and colourful which is such a great change from the sludgy shades (wouldnt want to try to say that after a drink!)
I love having close ups on your cards, its always full of surprises!

I think your new photo studio is doing a great job! Your photos are showing your cards off beautifully!

Keryn x

Julie M said...

Great cards, Steph - I particularly love the image on the first one - he looks like he's about to jump from the highest diving board!!!

Thanks for joining us on PaperPlay this week.

Julie :o)

Liz McGuire, said...

Hi Steph, two great cards. I love that cool image on the first one.

Good luck with the new job.

Liz x

Unknown said...

Superb cards Steph, love the image and the colours are fab, thank you for joining us at Sophisticats this week. Hugs Avril xxx

annes paperfun said...

So cute card!
Thank you for joining us at Sketchy Color this week - good luck!
Hugs Anne

Maya said...

Beautiful cards with lots of beautiful details!
Thank you for joining us at SC.
Hugs from Maya :)

Handmade with Love said...

Great male cards Steph they are always so hard to do! Good luck with your new job! Tracey x

Beth aka BR-T said...

Oh both of these cards are excellent!Thanks for playing along at Paper Cutz! Beth

Kruemel said...

That image is really cute and the papers go perfectly with it. Great take on my sketch, love how you turned it upside down.

Thanks for playing with Cupcake Craft this week!

Hugs,
Kathrin aka Kruemel

Georgia said...

These are both gorgeous!! I love the warm colours you've used and the mouse is so sweet! Thanks for joining us at the Crafty Calendar Challenge! :)
Georgia xx

carol said...

Hi..Both of your cards look fantastic, thanks for playing along with craftycatz, x carol

Donna said...

Fantastic take on this weeks sketch challenge, great choice of papers! Thanks for joining in the fun at Cupcake this week :) Donna x

Liza said...

Gorgeous cards Steph and a great take on the sketch. Thanks for joining us at CCC.

Liza x

Teresa Kline said...

wow, these are both so very adorable, luv your detailed style...have a fabulous weekend!

enjoy *~*

Shawne said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog, I'm glad I found you back. LOL!Your coloring on both of these is really awesome! Both of them are great male cards! Wanted to let you know I have blog candy now too if you would like to sign up. Good luck with that job!