Elvis Wesley Mouse, slips and slide into Christmas

 Hello Crafting friends

Whether you love it or hate it, the big 'C' word is on the way in only a few weeks!  I'm finishing the last of my cards to send, and this is a great opportunity to share this card with you to celebrate the start of a brand new challenge at Polkadoodles!

Today I am sharing a card made using Elvis Wesley moose.  He is a snake peek of a USB that's currently on sale on Polkadoodles website, and will be on the next TV show with Nikky.

The backing paper is also from the same USB.  I just love the bright bold background it makes.

So I printed him out on super smooth card and coloured him with my latest craft room addition a full set of Ohuhu Markers.  I have got copics, spectrum noir, and promarkers, but these might become my new favourite....  

When I printed Elvis, I did so in a lighter grey, so it's closer to a no-line drawing in places.  

Paired with a tag die cut and a tree from my stash, and of course some sparkle! 

If you want more info on the Polkadoodles challenge - all of the info is here, but it's a weekly challenge, with prizes for top designs and a lucky randomly drawn winner.  

I'd like to enter this into:

CRAFT challenge - Christmas for children

Craft rocket - Christmas

Crafty chicks - Christmas

The Holly and the Ivy - Christmas

For more of my designs, please follow me on my other SM channels the link is top right of this post.  

Thanks for dropping by, I love that you found me!  Hope to see you again very soon.

Rachael 

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Tiddlyinks Molly Swims image on 5x7 card

 Hi crafting friends, 

I'm back with a super cute card made using a Tiddlyinks image that I have had on my computer for ages and never used.  She's so cute, and perfect for the summer!

She is called Molly Swims and can be found on Etsy under the Tiddlyinks shop.

The backing papers are also from Etsy from a shop called Jenny L and these papers are called Secret Garden.  Again I downloaded ages ago and have not used them.

I cut the stripy paper leaving a 1-inch strip for the patterned floral paper.  The image was coloured with copics and fussy cut out.  I used a stitched circle die and placed it off the page to highlight the Molly.  The 'Hello' die is from Penny Black as is the sunshine sentiment, they are a seperate die and stamp set but work together to make phrases.  I then coloured the 'hello' in the same pink used on the rubber ring.

As a final touch, I put glossy accents onto the rubber ring and her sunglasses for a bit of shine.

She is just too cute!

I'd like to enter this into:

As you like it challenge - cute or floral I love anything cute, whether that's a cute girl or boy, or some critters.  I also love a floral, so on this card, I combined both!

Colour throw down - pink, yellow and green

Passion for markers - use a die (I used a stitched circle and a sentiment die)

A place to start - anything goes with option of add flowers

Creations in pink - mainly pink

thanks for stopping by - I hope you like my projects.  why not have a look on Instagram, interest or Facebook for more inspiration.  The links to my pages are in the top right corner.

See you all again soon.

Crafting hugs

Rachael 

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Spring is in the air

Hi Crafting friends

I don't know about you, but I am bored of this horrible grey and wet weather we are getting in the UK.  I cannot wait for spring, when the bulbs start to appear and the skies start to show blue with a hint of the sun! 

I made this card to cheer me up - I figure if it's raining outside, I can still have sunshine in my craft room.

This is for our latest challenge over at Polkadoodles.  each week we have a new challenge, but it's always anything goes!  you can enter with any image (not just Polkadoodles) and using all kinds of mediums.  The winner gets three digital images for free, chosen from the hundreds in the polkadoodles library. This image is called cute chicken with balloon, from an artist called Lucy Monkman who has a very distinct line style.  Perfect if you're not confident at colouring. 

I fussy cut them out after using Copuics to colour, and mounted on some vellum.  I did this as the patterned paper in the background is quite busy, so the vellum helps the image stand out against the spots. 

So cute - it made me smile!

I'd like to enter this into:

Don't forget to hop over to the Polkadoodles block and check out other DT inspirations and we love to see what you make each week!

See you soon

Rachael 

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Winter pastels colours

 Hello crafting friends

Today is once again a new challenge, the last for 2024, before we take a short Christmas break! What a year it's been for me, lots of life-changing moments and an awful lot of reflection!

I find crafting helps with my mental health and certainly when I need to reflect or back away from a situation for some distance and just stop thinking for an hour or two.

Anyway - back to the challenge.  I made this for the challenge using Winnie and Penguin from the white Christmas collection. Our theme was a pastel rainbow, but I chose to just use a few of the colours.

The papers are offcuts from my scraps drawer, and the colours match perfectly with my image.  Do you colour to match your paper, or colour an image and then find matching paper?  I do both, but this time around I coloured first.

I used a Kraft card square blank and rounded the edges on two sides as a point of difference from a usual square card.

The image was coloured using Copic markers in pinks, blues and violets, and I used a white gel pen to add detail to her cheeks, and stickles for the snow and her wings.

I then fussy cut the image out and mounted it on top of the car using foam pads.

I'd like to enter this into:

Thanks so much for stopping by - there is more inspiration on my Instagram pages if you prefer this way. If you are here - I would you to leave me a comment.  

See you again soon

Crafting hugs

Rachael 

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Pop up Bella bear

 Hello everyone. 

Time again for another challenge over at PD blog, and you can win some of the amazing images NIkky has.  There are loads of new ones, and a ton of oldies but goodies to choose from!

I used an image from the Bella Christmas bear release called 'Santa stop here'. Once I had coloured and fussy cutout, I used a pop-up die to add it to the inside of the card making it feel really special for the recipient. . The outside is decorated using the papers from the same release. The Christmas trees I took from the paper and enlarged them. Backing papers are more than just an accent behind the main image, have a close look and see what you can use in different ways!

I'd like to enter this into:

crafty catz - Anything goes

Creative fingers - anything goes

Jingle belles - christmas card with an animal

Most magical time of the year - Christmas

Creative inspiration challenge - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by today - please leave me a message so I know you have stopped here!

lots of crafting hugs!

Rachael 

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Octopus kisses

Hello crafters

Another fortnight has passed so it's time again for another Polkadoodles challenge over on our blog.  You can choose any theme and any project to share with us for a chance to win images.

I have today used one of my all-time favourite images - Winnie Octopus kisses   I have seen some comments recently about people not feeling confident to colour, so just as a reminder - Polkadoodles also do pre-coloured versions of most of the images, so if you lack confidence, or even if you need a quick card in an emergency, the pre-coloured images are amazing!

If you do like to colour - then for this image I used Copic markers for a base colour.  I used a couple of shades but didn't do much blending.  Over the top, I then used polychromos pencils to add depth to the shadows and texture across the image.  They are great for adding small detail too such as flicks in the hair. It really helped with the effect of pearlescence on the tail.  it looks like it shimmers between the purple and the turquoise. Finally, I added a white gel pen for a glittery effect

The papers are from my polkadoodles stash, when I print out digi images that have matching papers I keep them in a pile on my desk so I can pull them out when needed so I don't waste anything.

All then finished with twine, stickles glitter and some Nuvo drops.

I'd like to enter this into:

Creative fingers - Anything goes

Creative Inspiration challenges - Anything goes

Ally's Angels - anything goes

Crafts galore encore - Anything goes

Love to craft - Anything goes

Thanks so much for joining me - I hope to see your entries o our blog.

If you like my work then you can follow me on Instagram, Pinterest of facebook - the links are above.

See you all soon

Rachael 

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Egg-cited chick!

Hello everyone! 

Yay - Spring has finally arrived.  Outside is warm and sunny, with trees budding to life and flowers blooming!  this is my absolute favourite time of year....

To celebrate this, and the start of a new Polkadoodles challenge, here's this cute easter chick, re-purposed to celebrate spring.

This cutie is called egg-cited chick.  from the recent release.

I coloured him with copics adding lots of colour depth to the inside of the pot and adding white gel pen spots to the outside.  The sentiment is from the full bundle you can buy along with this chick.

The background is the square trellis one also from Polkadoodles with distress oxide ink in mustard seed.  The pink stamps are from the posy blooms stamps.  I then tore a strip of scrap pink paper to add interest around the sentiment

I hope you like this, and I also hope you'll check out our challenge blog for tonnes of inspiration from the talented DT!.

leave me some love if you stop here, or follow me on other social media platforms (links top right!)

I'd like to enter this into:

The alphabet challenge - adorable (anything cute)

Creative fingers - anything goes

lil red wagon - Spring

Passion for markers - animals

try it on Tuesday - anything Spring

See you all soon!

Crafting hugs

Rachael 

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thank you from Bella bear

Hi everyone

Just stopping by to share Bella bear saying thank you.  You can never have too many thank you cards in your stash, to show your gratitude towards others.

This was made for our latest Polkadoodles challenge over on the challenge blog.

 Each week there is a new challenge and the good news is that it's anything goes - with any image!

This is one of the latest daily deal releases from Nikky that is such good value.  You get a digi image and papers for such a tiny price, and they change regularly, new ones are added all the time!

I decided to have a white bear, that's what I love about digi images, you can colour in whatever you like, this type of bear could even be converted into a panda.

The papers behind are from Bob in the boat daily deal, so you can mix and match them.

I simply coloured in copics, added white gel pen dots and some glitter to her mug.  The hearts behind are from another polkadoodles stamp set just to add more interest behind her.

I'd like to enter this into:

Cutie pie challenge - something beginning with 'B'  Bella bear! 

Pammies pinkie inkies - anything goes

613 Avenue create - anything goes, option CAS

Lil patch of crafty friends - anything goes

Through the purple haze - anything goes

Thanks so much for stopping by - please follow me on other social media channels and leave me a comment.  I love to read them all!

See you again soon

Crafting hugs

Rachael

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Up. up and away!

Hello crafting friends

Its time for another new release over at all dressed up and although valentines has passed, this release can be used for so much more.

Here is my inspiration using valentines boy

I coloured him with a combination of copics, then using polychromos pencils for extra depth and detail.

The papers are from a Nitwit digi kit that I layered together, and then fussy cut the cute image and added with foam tape for dimension

Here are all of the new releases

Looking good (re-release)

Valentines boy

Valentines girl

Our Facebook challenge is still ongoing here  with the theme of celebrations, or hop over to our challenge blog where the theme is anything goes!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - it really does mean the world when I get emails with your comments on them.  Follow me on Facebook, or instagram for more

See you again

Crafting hugs

Rachael

 

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Owl always love you

 Hello crafting friends

It is again time for Polkadoodles to have another card-making challenge over on our blog.  This time I show-casing the wings of love collection (available from the website here:) with this super cute owl.

I normally print and colour, but recently I have loved using the pre-colored images that are available alongside the black and white digis.  These are perfect if your colouring needs some practice or simply because you don't have time.  I love to use them because it means I can make cards creatively in other ways.

I used one of the backing papers to make this mini slimline card, fussy cutting out the printed pre-coloured image.  I then used thin strips of paper to weave some interest at the side and added one of the sentiments from the collection too.

We would love to see what you make in our anything goes challenge - so I'll see you there.

I'd like to enter this into:

• Send a smile for the kids - love/valentine
• inkspirational - moodboard
• Creative fingers - anything goes
• craft rocket - not square

Thanks so much for stopping by - check me out on Instagram too - links are above!

See you again soon.

Rachael 

 

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Springtime

Hello crafting friends

I just love this time after Christmas when you can put away the frosty blues, reds, and greens and pull out the pastel shades!  Spring is my favourite time of year and the colour palette we can use is just the best!

This card was made for our latest blog challenge over at Polkadoodles.  It's always anything goes, so you can be in with a chance of winning some amazing images from the lovely Nikky, but you have to be in it, to win it!

I made this using some papers from the Winnie sugar sprinkles springtime collection and that is also where the digi image is from.

She was coloured using Copics and Spectrum noir brush markers, then fussy cut out before being laid on the papers using a die from my stash.

As the sentiment was printed in black, I thought it needed another bit of black to make it pop, and found this ribbon off-cut in my drawer.  

Isn't she super cute!

I'd like to enter this into:

Thank you so much for stopping by - it really makes a difference to know people are interested in my art.  Any comments, likes of follows I get are always appreciated! 

See you again soon

Rachael 

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Penguin fun

 Hi everyone

The latest challenge on Polkadoodles blog is live now!

Here is my inspiration for this challenge using the super cute penguin set called latte Christmas greetings

After colouring the images with copics, I set the scene by fussy cutting everything out and then cutting down my side fold card blank to form a snowy bank.  Behind it is some snowy polkadoodles papers.

They look so cute

I'd like to enter this into:

• crafty gals corner - tis the season
• the holly and the ivy - anything Christmas
• A place to start - Anything goes
• Christmas with the cuties - Anything goes

Thanks so much for dropping by - it does mean a lot and a huge Merry Christmas and thanks for all your ongoing support this year!

Mistletoe kisses!

Rachael 

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Memory book

 Hi everyone

Today is the latest Challenge over at Polkadoodles.  The DT are sharing ideas for gifts and packaging as the polka doodles products range can be used for much more than cards

I made this book using the last Christmas release of the cute gingerbread people.  I used the stamps and the papers to make a memory book I can fill with photos over Christmas to gift to someone in the new year.

Its so cute.  I'm adding photos but you could put recipes, memorabilia, or just journal your festive period.

The full download pack can be found here.

To join our challenge, nip over to our blog here, I can't wait to see your makes! 

I'd like to enter this into:

I'll see you all again soon, thank you so much for commenting and following me!  

Crafting hugs

Rachael

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Autumn Girl

 Hello everyone

I hope everyone is safe and well, sending thoughts to anyone in Florida at the moment with the horrible storm Ian.  

Today is the latest all dressed up challenge - I cannot believe it's the first of October already!  

I used one of the three autumn girls available from etsy.  There are three of them, but they also come separate so are brilliant value for money.

When I was shopping in Asda a found a pack of Crayola skin tone pencils, and they had so many colours it made me realise I always colour my images with the same pale skin, and we are obviously not all the same, so for this one I thought I would do something different.  

I hope you like it!

I'd like to enter this into:

Dream valley - Autumn colours

Get creative - Autumn/Fall

Creative fingers - Anything goes

Your next stamp - Fall

Crafty Gals corner - Signs of Fall

Thanks for stopping by!  If you want to see more inspiration you can drop by our Facebook page or blog, and for more of my work my social media links are at the top of the page. 

See you soon

Rachael

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Terror-ific

Hello again - I'm back with another spooky themed project!

This autumn gnome can be used for Halloween or just for autumn, but he is so cool and really easy to colour.  If you don't have the time or patience to colour, you can buy him pre-coloured.  Both digi and pre-coloured are available on the poolkadoodles website here:

This is to celebrate the start of our latest challenge over on the polkadoodles blog. where our theme , as ever, is anything goes...

Our DT always have some amazing projects to whet the appetite or if you're feeling a bit uninspired, yu can also check out the shop where every image has a gallery you can look through to help you imagine what you can make with the images! Please pop over and see us!

I firstly printed and coloured him using copics.  I then took the sentiments from the set and some paper and tore it for the central banner.  I decided it needed some interest in the background and grabbed a stencil from my stash and inked through.

All finished with some black Nuvo drops and a doodled border in black fineliner! 

I am scheduling this post as I'm away on hols, but i will be back soon with more inspiration! Thanks for stopping by!

See you again soon

Rachael

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You say witch like its a bad thing....

 Hi everyone

OMG - the new Polkadoodles release is out, and it is the cutest gnome set ever!!!  I totally loved colouring these guys and adding them to cards, I have so many to share, but I'll spread a few out between now and Halloween.

I just adore this image with the sentiment.  I sized her on craft artist the printed her three times.  I decided which parts would be most forward, and cut these out, forming a decoupage.  Its difficult to tell on a photo but she is so layered and looks really funky in 3d!

She was coloured with my trusty Copics, but the purple is spectrum noir triblend pens as I couldn't quite find the right purple shade from my copic stash.  I edged all of the layers with a black pen.

The background papers are also from the new release,  If you purchase the bundle you get all of the digi's, papers, sentiments and coloured images too!  at the moment its 40% off too, so a bargain, and it means you can get ahead making those cards and party invites!

I'd like to enter this into:

Colour crazy Challenge - Anything goes

Creative Fingers - anything goes

my time to craft - fantasy/whimsical

Creative knockouts - humorous card

Thanks so much for stopping by - leave me a comment and let me know what you think of her, or alternatively drop into any of my Social media pages (link top right) and like and follow me there instead!

See you soon for more crafting fun from the desk of the glittery pink craft room!

Rachael

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lets get spooky...

 Hi fellow crafters (and craft appreciators!)

I'm afraid Summer is drawing to a close, and looking at the prices of gas and electric in the UK, come the winter, we will be too cold to craft, so I'd better get ahead!

Our challenge is on again over at Polkadoodles week 35 - anything goes, along with a chance to win some of Nikky's amazing images - your biggest challenge will be choosing which ones!

This image is called Frankenstein monster boo and I have also used the Halloween paper bundle 2

I firstly used scattered straw distress oxide in the background, blending from the middle outwards like a glow, then added ink on the edges to frame him. I then used black gouache paint to splatter all over the background too.

I tore two strips of different papers to place across the bottom to ground my image.  He was printed out then coloured using copic markers then fussy cut and popped on some foam squares for dimension

I added the image and the sentiment, and decided it need more, so I went back to the paper pack and enlarged some of the skulls and fussy cut them out.

To finish the spooky feel, I doodled around the edge, and added some hand drawn cobwebs in the top corners

there are loads of great Autumn/Halloween images over in the shop - Please check them out.  Also see the other DTs amazing inspiration on the blog too!

I'd like to enter this into:

Daring card makers - in the long run (DL sideways)

My time to craft - fantasy whimsical

613 Avenue Create - anything goes

I'll see you all again very soon!

Rachael

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Mermazing!

 Hi everyone

Its Saturday and therefore time for the latest Polkadoodles blog challenge. Its a chance to be in with winning three images of your choice from the Polkadoodles shop, or if you're chosen by the DT as top three, you get one image.

You can enter with anything goes, but the DT theme was ocean - a perfect opportunity to pay with the super cute mermaids.  There are loads of different ones on the website, but I chose this beauty! 

For this weeks challenge I used this cutie called is from the Winnie Mermazing collection called Octopus kisses.

I also used the matching digi papers for the torn strip in the background, a stencil called Land and sea  and finally the sentiment is from Winnie celebration sentiments

The image was coloured using copics and finished with white gel pen, sparkle pens and a drop of glossy accents to those sweet octopuses

I just love how this one turned out.  

I'd like to enter this into:

Simon says stamp - anything goes

Paper shelter - under the sea

Double D beach time

Through the purple haze - anything but square

Krafty chicks - anything goes

Craft rocket challenge - girls

As you like it - favourite - girls (I love pink and purple too much!)

Your next stamp - anything goes

Thanks so much from dropping by - please do check out our blog!  and if you want to see more inspiration from me, I have other social media links at the top right of the page.  Leave me some love - it always makes me smile.  See you soon

Rachael 

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Dino-mite

 Hi Crafting friends

I have some amazing news.... I am now officially a Polkadoodles DT!!!!  Yey!  Big thanks to Nikky and her team for letting me join.  

I'll be making new projects for the blog every two weeks and occasionally making stuff for create and craft, so I am absolutely delighted to be part of this amazing company.

Our two weekly challenge is always anything goes - and you can enter to win some amazing digi from the Polkadoodles shop.  The best thing is you don't have to use a Polkadoodles image, but I promise once you start adding them to your collection, you won't be able to stop!

Even the top three get a freebie too...  

I made this using Dino mite from the little dudes collection. You can find the digi download here from Polkadoodles.

This is a bundle and you get the digi stamp, sentiments and backing papers that I have used here in this project.  I coloured him with Copic markers then using the background papers cut a circle card blank layering the other patterned paper in a trip behind.  Using foam pads and glue I assembled it all together, and I think its a perfect card for any little boys birthday!

I hope you can join us - check out the blog for more inspiration from the team!

I'd like to enter this into:

Through the purple haze - anything but square

Crafty gals corner - anything goes

Little red wagon - use something digital

Paper funday - anyhting goes wit twist - male

double trouble - masculine

Thanks so much for stopping by - any comments likes, shares, or follows are greatly appreciated and I read every one.  If Blogging isn't your usual Social Media style check out my links above for other ways to see what I make.

See you all soon

Rachael 

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Spring wellies

Hello everyone

I've been on holiday this week, and had a few hours crafting time.  I decided to challenge myself to something different, and went to my Nitwit digi scrapbooks to create some cards that don't involve colouring.

I needed some Easter and spring cards to send out, and although I do have a lot of Easter stamps and digi stamps, I decided to do some mindful fussy cutting and layering instead. 

This is one of the cards I made - in the end I made about 10 cards using the same kit.  I find sometimes to limit the supplies helps bring back my mojo, and stretch my creative brain.  It was so much fun to do this for a change!

This kit is called Spring wellies

All I did was chose the images and lay them out in my craft artist software, then print them.  I spent a while fussy cutting everything, then printed some matching backing papers.  The using glue and foam pads, made my cards, in all different shapes and sizes. 

Thank you for stopping by - I really appreciate you taking the time to drop in.  If you want more inspiration please check out my Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest boards too.(link up above)

I'd like to enter this into:

Alphabet challenge  - A is for animal antics (that naughty cat is clearly up to no good!)

Crafty catz - AG but option April showers

C.R.A.F.T - Spring

Through the purple haze - add an animal

Crafty gals corner - Spring

See you soon

Crafting hugs

Rachael

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