The Dark Side

And that's the name of this weeks challenge at Papertake! I had really good fun making this one as it's probably my last Halloween card. I say probably because a girl can change her mind. Cupcake Craft Challenges want us to use buttons and stitching, no way was I getting my sewing machine out so it's faux all the way for me.

Digital Tuesday want to see Halloween, Our Creative Corner provided this fab sketch and Dare you to Digi Stamp want to see black, orange, yellow and white. Saturday Spotlight with hidden potential want us to decorate a tree.



So the image and the patterned papers are digi from Pink Petticoat, aren't they fab? The buttons are My Minds Eye with a little thread knotted through. The sentiment is also Pink Petticoat and the stitched ribbon is DCWV. I doodled the rest of the stitching.

I've just booked a short break to Centre Parcs, can't wait to go and see Zac messing about in the pool. I might even hire one of those bikes with a baby trailer on the back. For those that know me really well, yes I did say I might hire a bike! I might even ride it....

Victoria
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Autumn frenzy

Now I could be going a bit OTT here but this card is made for nine challenges and I have to be honest and say I wrote them all down before I started so no just adding to a challenge for the sake of it!

1. Sketch Saturday - sketch
2. The Pink Elephant - Fall
3. Cute Card Thursday - So Charming
4. Charisma Cardz - 3 papers, 3 flowers, 1 ribbon, 1 charm
5. C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - inspirational photo
6. Stamp Something - Brown plus something
7. Stampin' for the Weekend - orange, brown and leafy green
8. Crafty Calendar - Autumn
9. Secret Crafter - Autumn colours
   

The stamp is a Sugar Nellie and although not my usual style, I love this one. She's shaded with Sue's ProMarkers as I didn't have mine with me on Saturday (thanks Sue!) and Glamour Dust. The flowers are Prima (thanks Steph) and Woodware with a leaf brad by Cloud 9 and a little swirl charm.



The lovely ribbon is out of a bumper K&Co kit I got off QVC a long time ago and I'm not sure who made the 'dream' sentiment - I've lost the packet.

Hmm, maybe I can be swayed from pink and cute every now and then eh?

Thanks so much for all your lovely comments both here and at Die Cut Dreams about Flynn and the global Wave of Light on Thursday night.

Victoria
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Babies R Us

Here is my design team card for Die Cut Dreams this week. Our theme is 'Babies R Us'. I'm also entering this for The Sugar Bowl for the sketch and Christmas theme. This week Die Cut Dreams are sponsored by Blueberry Barn Crafts where you can buy everything you need to top up your stash. Tracy has donated some lovely stuff for a prize.

The week ahead is 'Baby loss awareness week'. Parents and families whose lives have been touched by the loss of a baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth are uniting across the UK to show their support for the Baby Loss Awareness campaign 2009, which focuses on International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day on October 15th.

On Thursday at 7pm it's the Global Wave of Light. To join in all you need to do is light a candle at 7pm in honour of the memory of our precious babies. There will be millions of candles twinkling across the world for our forever babies, it's sad but so magical.

As some of you know, my first baby son Flynn died when he was two days old following birth complications at 42 weeks, he would be three years old now. They say time is a great healer....... but you never forget. I know many bloggers who have lost their babies and it makes me so sad, so I'll be lighting a candle for my little guy and for your precious babies too.

To find out more if you have been affected by a loss or would like to make a donation or if you'd simply like to visit the websites for the charities behind these events they are here:

UK SANDs
Babyloss

OK, on to the challenge. This is the Christmas card I've made for Flynn this year, I thought this stamp was so cute. I shaded him with Copics and ProMarkers and added Glamour Dust too. I created the sentiment myself on the PC and popped a heart button in the centre.



The chipboard elements are from a huge Brenda Pinnick kit I have that will probably last me through every Christmas! The patterned papers are DCWV - I'm slowly working my way through all my old stash of papers, it's going to take some time.



Good luck with the challenge, please have a look what the rest of the design team have created and .... there's candy up for grabs there too!!

Victoria
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Happy First Birthday Eve

My friends little girl Eve is one year old tomorrow and I've just got home from her Birthday party. This is the card I made for her.



I'm entering this for Sunday Sketch and Stamp as this lovely sketch is for their blog. I've also joined in with Creative Card Crew who's theme is 'Celebrations' in honour of Sharon's 50th and also One Stop Craft Challenge who's theme is 'Birthdays' also in honour of Sharon!



The stamp is by The Greetings Farm and she's shaded with Copics and of course Glamour Dust (am I getting predictable?). The balloons are from a CC Designs stamp set with letters and numbers die cut using Quickutz but not sure which alpha I used. Finally branched out in to the world of scalloped cards, I have a few so expect me to use them again.

Hope you're having a lovely weekend.

Victoria
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Christmas Sketch

My second post today. Over at Bee Crafty our challenge this fortnight is to follow a fabulous sketch and use a digi image on your creation somewhere.



I created this Christmas card with a spinning medallion in the centre using Whimsical Girl with Snowman image from Bee Crafty. She's shaded with ProMarkers and highlighted with Stickles - I'll be sticking to Glamour Dust, got myself in a right mess!!



The patterned paper is DCWV and I used my Nellies frames and nestabilities to create the shapes. The design is hanging on silver thread and spins when the card is stood up. Here's the inside.



I can't stop as I'm at Sue's and we have taken over her dining room with our crafts stuff. We went to the new craft shop in her village that opened today and it was rhubarb! What a disappointment. Never mind.

Victoria
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Spooky Bags

It's my second week being guest designer at Allsorts and our theme this week is Halloween. Pink Gem Designs are sponsoring us and there's a fab stamp up for grabs.



I made this treat bag and card using another template from Papertrey Ink. I'm entering this for the challenge at Simon Says Stamp as the theme is Halloween and Three Clovers want to see Halloween or Autumn treat bags.


I used the Spooky Doodles kit from Pink Petticoat, I couldn't resist these cute lil pink ghosts. Zac's best friend Aimee will love this filled with white chocolate buttons. The Kraft card is printed from the same kit and the buttons are from The Range, only 99p for a massive bag full.



I forgot to tell you I lost another 2 pounds at fat club on Thursday, fingers crossed I'll have lost a stone by Christmas.

I'm leaving James in charge of the boys today whilst I go to meet Sue. Shopping, gossiping and crafting. It was harder than packing to go on holiday sorting out a bag full of stuff to take with me today. I need a lorry to pack up my entire stash!!

Victoria
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Is it me or Anya?

Now then, another post from me today because I have two projects to post tomorrow and if I don't post this now I'll miss the challenge deadline. Anyone for Anya have set the challenge to create 'you're Anya' to use the Anya that best portrays you so........



Being as I look nothing like any of the Anya stamps and never will no matter how long I attend fat club, I decided it was time to have a go at altering an Anya stamp. The incredibly talented Amy has been doing it for ages, and she does it with style too, you must check out her blog to see what she does with these stamps. She is one seriously talented lady. So I had a go and this is what I came up with (Amy don't laugh!).



I used the sketch from Truly Scrumptious and added a little doodling on the blue strips and one trouser leg too. This started off as one of the original Miss Anyas. I masked bits of her off and drew her in with a Letraset pen, but the legs went horribly wrong and I had to cut and chop about which doesn't look great.

I only go out in jeans at the moment and love my pink top that covers my sins! I had to add my huge pewter flower necklace, it goes with everything! So this is the 'Anya me'.

The patterned paper is DCWV, the printed ribbon is Dovecraft and the cute gemstone brads are Doodlebug and were a lovely pressie I got in the post this week from Susie.

And finally, if you're in the mood to get your mitts on some candy, pop over to Die Cut Dreams where you can pop your name down for a chance to win. While you're there check out the fab Halloween challenge with prizes up for grabs too.

Victoria
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