A Star is Born - for BBTB2

On Bitten By The Bug2 this week, Carla set the challenge, and asked us to use the delivery cut from the New Arrival cartridge

I used a 6 x 6 scalloped card base from Craftwork Cards, and embossed it with my new 5 x 5 dots embossing folder - how I wish they had made it 6 x 6! I cut a strip of pattern paper (DCWV) for the edge, and popped another smaller embossed scallop strip onto that, wrapped with ribbon. The star was cut from George at 4", and the baby at 3". The baby face is a stamp by Peachy Keen, and I used copics to give her a bit of colour. Lettering is tiny alphas by Making Memories

I scribbled on the star with a quickie glue pen and sprinkled with glamour dust
If you enjoy a challenge, why not join in this week at BBTB2? We love seeing all the creations.

I think it's a back-to-work day in the USA today, here in the UK we have a bank holiday. Easter monday is the first bank holiday of the year after new year, so a whole lot of events are arranged, the motorways come to a standstill with everyone out and about...............me? I'm staying home and finishing off the babies first birthday cards.
See you tomorrow

Baby Girl Card

Isn't this stamp the sweetest thing? I can't remember who makes it, I borrowed it at a crop. The papers are by Heidi Grace, I cut the trees out and popped them on for dimension. The letters are my favourite American Craft thickers, which I got from Big Lots for a bargain $2 a pack - they cost a LOT more in the UK

I stamped her twice, once onto the white card, then again onto the pattern paper and cut her clothes out of that
I get a lot of questions about what size my cards are. My favourite size seems to be a 6 x 6 square, although recently I have been making some 5 x 7 as well. I know that in the US you have to pay extra for postage on square cards, I think it's an extra 20 cents, we don't have the same restriction in the UK - yet. I daresay that somewhere in the Post Office corridors of power, someone will have a light bulb moment any day now, and say 'hey chaps, we can make lots of extra lolly if we charge extra for square envelopes' - it's bound to happen.
.They did recently bring in a depth restriction in the UK, so if you take a bulky envelope to the post office, they solemnly push it through a plastic letter box slot, and always look really disappointed when your envelope sails through.

Here's a baby boy card made with another Pink Gem stamp. I stamped twice, once onto the blue gingham paper and paper pieced the image. The ribbon was bought already ruffled, a nice compromise when you don't want too many lacy frills for a new little man.... The sentiment is a dollar stamp

I do love the baby faces on these stamps
Here I am, back in the USA. I flew out yesterday, my BFF Anne as my companion for two weeks, Mike has very wisely decided to stay in the UK until next month, rather than have two weeks of wall-to-wall shopping and girlie chat.
Before we had even unpacked our (very heavy) cases, we hit the shops, and managed to browse around a total of eight stores, punctuated with visits to Dunkin Donuts for a shot or two of caffeine to keep us going, and a sit down in a nail parlour to rest for a while, whilst having a pedicure - Heaven!
One of the things I had to buy was a Flip video camera, I haven't used it yet, but may well be able to post little tutorial videos on here if I can figure out the technology, it's so cute, only the size of a mobile (cell) phone, and it was on sale.

Baby Girl Card

A friend of mine let me borrow all her Pink Gem stamps, (thanks Denyze) and I just love this little baby image, I stamped twice, once onto Cloisonne paper by GCD Studios (from Michaels), and once onto white, then paper pieced. The colouring was done with copic markers

I tied a little enamel charm with a safety pin to the bow, and used some real broderie anglaise to edge the card - I always associate this lace with tiny babies and little girls
Isn't she a cutie? The corner rounder is by Marvy, and is a favourite of mine

I think summer has packed up and gone home, not that it ever came to visit us for long this year, today is grey, blustery and downright cold - oh yes, and raining. I can't wait to feel the Florida sun again

Baby Girl Card for Cute Daisy May

What a sweet little sleeping girl, having her nap on the moon.................

and inside................

On Cute Daisy May this week, the challenge is 'anything goes' so you can pick your favourite card and enter it for a chance to win a blinkie for your blog and a free download. I picked this sweet little girl image, and cut a moon with the New Arrival cartridge. The sentiments are computer generated and the papers are Heidi Grace. The border was done with the martha stewart valentine hearts border punch, and the pink ribbon is a twill, also by MS

There is a blog hop over on Bitten by the Bug this week, the main prize is the brand new Stand and Salute Cricut cartridge, so hop on over there to see how you can be in with a chance of winning (I didn't join in this week, a. because I don't have that cartridge, and b. because I am a bit up to my eyes in it with my own bloggy candy thing)

I am busy with a magazine commission, working on the Christmas issue, it seems odd to be working with snowflakes in June. I have a lot of emails asking about doing stuff for a magazine. How it works is that the editor contacts me with an idea for an article, or I have been known to come up with an idea myself, we toss these ideas around via email, and when I have a clear picture of what is wanted, I start searching for supplies. All the papers/stamps etc have to be current, and available from a UK supplier, so I can't pull some paper randomly out of my stash. When that is sorted and the cards designed and made (avoiding some specific colours that don't photograph well), you write the accompanying article, again to a specific format and using a set number of words. Then I email the text, and send the cards off to be photographed, which has to be done before a tight deadline. Magazines work at least three months in advance, so it can be Christmas in June or Easter in December. Jenny Dixon the editor of Papercraft Inspirations magazine is lovely, very approachable and is good at gently telling me that some of my wildest ideas just wouldn't work! Take a look at the site, there are always freebie downloads on there, and competitions too.

Baby Card

Here is my offering for this week's Bitten By The Bug. Regina asked us to use one of the wreath cuts - there are three, two on joys of the season, and this one on christmas cheer. I thought it would make a pretty 'welcome baby' card. I cut the wreath at 4", added some swiss dots, buttons and a bit of sewing. The sentiments are studio G.

Baby Girl Card - Plantin and New Arrival

Another challenge site, ScrummyStash Cafe asked for a baby project. I made these two cards last night. The baby girl card was cut from a 12 x 12 sheet of card, I cut it at 5", then scored the long side at 3", making 4 folds. The B A B Y letters were cut from Plantin at 5", two in white and two in the palest of pinks. I ran them all through my cuttlebug using the swiss dots folder, then decorated - I had fun with this, put all sorts of little embellishments on it.

I covered the front with a spotty paper and made a band to keep it all together. The little dress was cut from New Arrival at 3"