Men are so much better.........

Look at this sassy lass, the stamp is by Hampton Arts (I think, I borrowed it to stamp some images). Papers are by making memories and the ribbon is some quite thick fringed stuff that I found lurking in a drawer (I have lots of lurking ribbons). The black brads aren't brads at all but domed paper shapes (a UK invention, I have never seen them on sale in the USA), I love them, they are called card candy, come in every colour under the sun and are a fraction of the price of brads. I think I got them from Craftwork Cards. The white scallops were done with an EK success border punch, and the black scallop card is by papermania UK.

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We have a bird living somewhere in a tree near here. I know he lives there because he chirps all night. Honestly, I thought they were supposed to shut up at night and get some shut-eye, but no, he makes the same chirp (a long two-tone sort of chirp) ALL night. Doesn't stop for breath. Wouldn't you think he would get a sore throat from doing that all night long. Notice that I have given him a male gender, his missus is probably too busy cleaning the nest to do any chirping.

Friendship Card

Yes, it's that fabric again. Well, if I get an idea, I always flog it to death. I have just bought some more as well, so it will be never-ending. So these lovely ladies are by Loralie, the fabric is called Gone Shopping, and I got it off ebay. I stuck them on at an angle because they looked a bit more jaunty that way. The green spotty paper is making memories.

I met up with a new friend yesterday, Net, who is on the cute Daisy May design team with me, and holidaying in Florida. We met at a scrapbook store, where we rummaged like a couple of maniacs, then went to a nearby plaza for some lunch. There was a cafe place with tables outside so we plonked ourselves down and started to read the menu. It dawned quite quickly that it was vegetarian, fine, we had no problem with that....................caffix. Have you ever heard of caffix? No me neither/coffee substitute of roasted barley, rye, chicory and beet roots. Right, so coffee's off then. Turning to the front of the menu we saw that they were committed to serving meals to feed the body and soul. Okay, it's actually my tummy that needs some ballast, we can forget the soul for now. It seems that the restaurant is inspired by their meditation teacher who is a dreamer of world-oneness (?????), musician, poet, artist and world famous athlete. However does he find the time?

At this point along came a very pleasant woman dressed in a strange orange outfit, who informed us that the soup was green. Green what? We didn't wait to find out, slunk away into the Pizza place next door where they didn't even offer to feed our souls, but served some very good ravioli.

Circle and Scallops for The Pink Elephant

The challenge on The Pink Elephant this week is to use circles and scallops. I wanted to do something a bit different and used this circle with a scalloped border from the Storybook cartridge. I threaded a strip of pattern paper through it (Bo Bunny) and decorated the strip with sequin ribbon (rusty pickle). The background was stamped using Stampin Up's Dream a Little set. I cut flowers from the paper and put some unravelled black fuzzy wool behind them then dotted a few gems around.

Talking of challenges, don't forget to pop over to Cute Daisy May and have a go at making a card with their cute sketch - you don't have to use their images, and you can win a free download. It's a new site so you have a good chance of winning.

Feel Better Card for Colour Create.....and a sneeky peek

On Colour Create this week the colours are red, chocolate and cream, so I made this little house mouse stamp fit the bill. I added a large scalloped circle (cut in half) down one side, and a strip of torn corrugated card. Some ribbon, flowers and a bit of string and I was done. I love this little image.

Here is a sneeky peek of one of the cards that I made this month for Papercraft Inspirations (on sale now in the UK, June 1st in the USA). The whole article is about turning your pocket cards into gifts. Here is a man card, I made some girlie ones, a teen one and so on.

Wanted - New Funky Hand Design Team Member

Go HERE to find out what it's all about. If you fancy having a go, you would be joining one of the friendliest, supportive and funniest design teams in Blogland. Go on, have a go...................

Flower Card

Here's another quick card I made at the crop on Saturday
The image is by Hero Arts, coloured with copics. I used a cuttlebug border folder and scattered some gems around. The bow is a ribbon bought from Big Lots - I really like big ribbons at the moment, I used to look at narrow little ribbons for cards, but I am really into the impact that huge bows make.

No crafting for a couple of days, we have been to see friends from the UK who are staying on Anna Marie Island. The weather was scorching and we went onto the beach, where there was a stiff breeze to mask the effects of the sun, so we looked a funny bunch when we went out to dinner, various shades of pink. I had taken a tomato coloured top to wear, unfortunate choice in the circumstances, but hey, at least it matched my nose

as you can see..............................

Sketch Challenge for Cute Daisy May

The design team on Cute Daisy May were asked to follow a sketch, hop over there to see the challenge and join in. I love this little image and coloured her in with copics, the sentiment sort of fell into place as I assembled the card. I added some pretty flowers, and was pleased with the end result this time.

I have been busy making 'stuff' for Kiki's dolls house that she had for Christmas. I decided to get some polymer clay and make some little dishes and bowls. Now I had no idea of scale at all, but have bought a few pieces of furniture too, so used that as my base line. The first attemps were pathetic, they just looked like lumps of clay (well, they WERE just lumps of clay), they were also very big, although when I was making them I thought they were so tiny, as far as scale goes, imagine a bowl of flowers that's bigger than your sofa....I think even a four year old would notice that something was not quite right. However, all is not lost, I have the perfect solution, it's called Ebay where you can buy little diddy stuff already made and in perfect proportion. I have also been looking for a present to take to her when her baby brother is born, I thought a baby boy doll would be good. Good grief, they are so UGLY, and noisy too. One brand of dolls all started crying everytime I walked past, they must have had a motion sensor or something. It would drive everyone nuts. I do hope my baby grandson doesn't look or sound like these dolls!

House Mouse, Copics and Wobbly Stitches......

On national scrapbooking day yesterday, I went to a crop at a store near here called Scrapbook Fanatics, it was fun and I was actually quite productive, unlike the last one where I made two cards in two days! This is one of the cards I made, and because I didn't have my machine with me wanted to put some stitching on, so I bought some of the little Daisy D stitch runners. Hmm, the jury is out on these, I found them best for just dashes of random stitching, it would be impossible to get a nice stitched looking border all the way around with them. So my rolled on stitching looks a bit wobbly and uneven, a bit like my regular stitching really. The stamp is house mouse, coloured with copics, and the paper is a mystery, but I like it. The green scallops were done with my new EK Success border punch.

I have used a random number generator for the first time to get the winner of the blog candy and the winner is

JOZZA

Can you email me please Jozza with your address. Bitten by the Bug are planning to have a monthly blog hop from now on, so this will be a regular feature of the site. Thanks to all of you who joined in the fun.

'Say Charge' Shopping card for Inspirational Card sketches

I made this one for the ICS challenge this week, I copied their sketch but it has got lost somewhere in my computer, so you will have to pop over there to see........

I wasn't going to post another fabric card for a while, thought you would all be sick of them, but I have had so many emails saying 'more please' that I thought you would be able to tolerate one more. Loralie fabric as before, the 'say charge' sentiment is from the set of that name by MFT, papers are Making Memories, flowers Prima, gems from poundland UK, and my favourite pointed label die is by Go-kreate, embossed with distressed stripes embossing folder.

Sarah Kay Card for Papertake Weekly

The challenge, which got me kick started into crafting again, over on Papertake Weekly challenges was to use polka dots and stripes. Now I just happen to have bought a huge pack of paper all stripes and spots in different colour collections (Paper Studio). This image, coloured with copics, really, really reminds me of Kiki, so I enjoyed the challenge. I stuck some black fibres behind the flowers for a bit of a punch (idea pinched from my mega talented friend Phyllis, thanks Phyllis)

Two days, two cards......

Time to share the very unproductive results of a two day swarm (cricut crop) that I went to in Ocala at the weekend. Two cards in two days, and I had taken enough stuff with me to make a card for the entire population of the UK, well the world probably. It was fun of course, so who's counting...... . Anyway, here is my first card, Tilda sitting on her swing (the swing was stamped for me by my lovely pal DawnyP). I used the MS hearts border on the edge. Normally I would have machine stitched around the white panel, but the sewing machine was about the only bit of kit I didn't take with me.

The second card is the result of a challenge that I found really hard, we were presented with an envelope containing random papers, diecuts, brads, ribbon and so on. We had to use them ALL on our card, which even for me, who likes to throw a lot of stuff at a card, was a stretch too far. Anyway, Tilda came to the rescue again and I managed to use everything in my bag, plus Tilda. I added some glitter to the stars, and glossy accents to the balloons and popped everything up off the card. I chopped the metal rim tags in half and added some tiny sticker letters.

I think I left my mojo behind in Ocala though, (I may have lost it on the way there come to think of it), and have had a totally useless day today, there are about 5 torn up projects in the trash can, and you may be able to see the blue cloud above my house from where you are............

Saturday is national scrapbook day, and I am going to another all day crop, may as well take advantage of these things while I am here, when I am back in the UK I am a very lonely little crafter.

Doodlecharms Dragonflies for BBTB

We were asked to use any cut from the doodlecharms cartridge this week, using the border feature. I chose the dragonflies - I was in the mood for 'pretty' when I made the card. I cut twice at 2 1/2", once on plain white cardstock, then again on white vellum, which I ran through the cuttlebug using swiss dots. I added dots of liquid pearls and a huge ribbon bow. The 'top note' cut was done with my die from go-kreate, love this die. I used the leafy embossing folder for this, and distressed all the edges in pale pink chalk ink.

This week we are having a bit of a blog hop, for everyone of you who leaves a comment on this post, you will be in with a chance to win.............................................................

two packs of yummy ribbons from Fancy Pants and Making Memories, and an SEI 'Friend' word book, which would make a fabulous birthday card for a special friend. The ribbons are a variety of chenille, velvet, rickrack................ooh, I do love ribbon. So leave a comment, making sure you leave your name so that I can identify you when I draw the winner next sunday. Then hop over to Carole's blog and see what she is offering, then follow her links to the next BBTB DT member who is offering candy. If you hop around to all the blogs you will have a good chance of winning yummy candy. Be patient today though, as we all live in different time zones and it may take a while for us all to get on board with this
All the designs can be seen on the Bitten by the Bug site

Design Team Cards - Cute Daisy May and Whimsy Stamps

All the design teams I am on seem to publish their challenges on the same day, so a little gaggle of cards to show you today. Firstly, this little sweetie is a downloadable image from Cute Daisy May, where the challenge this week is GEMS.
All the papers are K & Co, the colouring was done with copics, scalloped card and sentiment circle is by Craftwork Cards. Why don't you have a go at this challenge - Linnie on CDM doesn't even insist on CDM images for the challenge, and there are downloads to be won each week

The challenge on Whimsy stamps is monochromatic, so I used browns and cream for this little owl card. Here is the inside..................................

All the papers are Martha Stewart, and the letters are puffy stickers by Making Memories.

An award to pass on......

Rose very kindly sent me this little award, I am supposed to pass it on to ten people, but as usual time is of the essence here in crafting chaos land, so I hope I will be forgiven if I pass it on to just 5, some of them are new bloggers and this award will brighten up their blogs, all visit me very regularly and leave sweet comments, so here you are -
Lisa, Diana, Jamers, Max and Shelley - this is for you. Pass it on to 10 bloggers, or if you are like me, cheat and pass it on to five :)
I have been helping a couple of these blog pals with setting up their blogs, if my kids are reading this, can you pick yourselves up off the floor and stop laughing please, you look ridiculous. I DO know a bit about computers, well I can switch it off and on, that's a start................ If you can find a minute to click onto their blogs to encourage them that would be really appreciated.

Green Brown and Orange for Colour Creat

I bought this magnolia 'scene' stamp with the clouds, bench and grass, and when I had stamped it thought I would cut the front of the card totally away around the stamped image. I put some wild asparagus green spotty paper on the inside of the card, and perched Tilda on the bench. The scallop border is Martha Stewart doily lace. The sentiment circle was from Craftwork Cards.

I coloured Tilda in greens and orange to fit in with this week's challenge over on colour create which was to use these colours. Funnily enough, the plainer I left this card, the better it looked, I tried adding flowers and bling and it just didn't work. Sometimes, less is best.

I had a great time at the swarm, although, all I managed to produce in two days was two cards and the base of two word books. We did do a LOT of shopping though. There was a 'bring and buy' table, and someone had bought along a Zutter bind-it-all, which I have been looking for for ages at a good price, so now, that is my new passion, expect to see a lot of books on here anyday soon.

Funky Fabric

here's another card made with my ebay find, fabric by Loralie called 'gone shopping'. I used the same method as before, swipe the back of the fabric with a glue stick, stick to white cardstock and smooth with a bone folder. Dry overnight then cut out. The border punch is lattice arch by Martha Stewart, and the flowers are Poppicraft.

I have everything ready to go to my crop, how clever of me to condense it into about 10 bags, by the time I unload, it will be time to come home again :) I fell asleep in the sun yesterday by the pool, having applied super high factor sunscreen all over me first - well all over except for my forehead, which I missed, I have a fringe, Big mistake, massive....... I look like a biker chick wearing a bright red bandanna on my head, except it's just my glowing forehead. They could stand me on top of a cliff in an emergency and I would make a very good temporary lighthouse.

Tilda

Here is Tilda sitting on a toadstool! I wanted to keep the card layout simple on this one, and just let Tilda shine. Papers are my Making Memories.

I am getting ready to go to Ocala tomorrow for a 'swarm' (a crop for Cricut fanatics). I find packing for these things almost impossible, and run around like a headless chicken......I MUST take this paper with me, I MUST have at least 20 spools of ribbon 'just in case', oh, I need ALL my buttons, ...... I do this, arrive laden to the place and discover that I have left something totally vital like my cutter at home. Whatever, it will be fun, I met a lot of the ladies who are going at a similar crop in Orlando last year, so will be renewing friendships made then also.

Mum Card for Pink Elephant and Colour Create

I used a word topper from the Cutting Cafe for this one, I cut the MUM word out and popped it on with dimensional foam, adding a shadow in the pink. The black mesh is leftover screen netting from when we got our 'bug cage' put on our lanai, and you will recognise the flowers, they are recycled from my blog header. The black bobble trim was left over from a halloween project.

So Pink Elephant ask for a Mum card/and or recycled stuff. Colour create specify a combo of black, white and pink, preferably with polka dots. So I am dead chuffed I managed to combine ALL the elements for two challenges into a single little card.

Happy Birthday to my Purr-fect Friend

Another fabric card, I am loving these and having fun coming up with sentiments as well. All the how to do it instructions are under the label fabric cards. The paper is by making memories and the sentiment was done on the computer.

Speaking of purr-fect friends, my BFF Anne has a milestone birthday today back in the UK. Happy happy birthday Anne xxx

What's this? shhhh, it's a secret, all will be revealed on Create and Craft TV in the UK on April 27th. Yes, it's the release date for the new Funky Hand CD, and let me tell you, the papers are just gorgeous.