Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - challenge #44 - Blooms and Charms

Another 2 weeks have flown by and we have a new challenge for you over at Dare U 2 Digi Stamp and this fortnights challenge which is BLOOMS & CHARMS is now underway. All you have to remember is that you must use at least one digi stamp on your project to enter! The DT girls have made some really stunning cards for this challenge so be sure to check them out over on the challenge blog!

I have used this super cute digi image that was a freebie from Whimsy Stamps some time ago and which my good friend Stacy very kindly sent on to me - thanks Stacy - love it!. The papers are all from My Minds Eye Oh La La kit and the flowers are by prima.


I have followed the fabulous current sketch at Sketch Saturday

Have a great weekend. I have my sister coming to visit from Lincolnshire this weekend - she is on her way now and I am super excited - not seen her since November last year so we have a lot of catching up to do.

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Challenge ~43 - Sketch by Donna

For our new challenge today at Dare U 2 Digi Stamp we have a fabulous sketch by our own Donna for you to follow.


I really enjoyed this sketch - thank you Donna. I have used another fab image from Tiddly Inks this week along with one of the matching sentiments and the ticket stamp was one that came as a freebie with a magazine some time ago. The papers are all by Papermania and the flowers by prima which I have edged with some ink and then a little stickled to make them sparkle.


I am also going to enter this card in the current challenge at Tiddly Inks where the challenge is "Fit for a Princess".

Have a great weekend.

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp Challenge #42 - Stitching

We have another great challenge for you today at Dare U 2 Digi Stamp and this time we are looking for some stitching on your cards. You can check out the challenge and take a peek at the fab cards and projects from the DT to inspire you with this challenge Here

I have used this cute little freebie image that I got at Tiddly Inks a while back and have never had a chance to use. I also used a tutorial on their blog on colouring black hair on this image. This is the first time that I have tried black hair and I am really pleased with it. My DT buddy Larissa is on the DT at Tiddly Inks and I am always in awe of her creations, so I hope that I have not let her down here.
The papers that I have used were a free pad with one of the crafting magazines this week and the flower is by prima.



I have chosen to follow the sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday this week and I am also entering this card at Tiddly Inks Challenge where they are looking for you to match the colours on your image with the colours on your paper and lastly Stamp Something are looking for something digital on your card, so this Tiddly Inks Digi just fits the bill perfectly.


Have a great week.

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - the great outdoors

It's a new challenge on DU2DS today with a theme of the great outdoors so there are lots of ways of interpreting this one. I hope you can join us and there's some wonderful inspiration from rest of the DT and our guest designer Julie.

I have used this fabulous digi image by my talented DT buddy Chris which you can purchase Here it is called Watching and at only £1.25 is a brilliant little image for all sorts of cards and it would probably also be great for male cards.


I have used papers from the Henbury collection by papermania and the gorgeous little flowers are some that I got in a DT pack for the lovely girls at Nutcrafters.

Have a lovely weekend.

I will not be around for a week or so (apart from a couple of posts that I have already scheduled) as I am heading off to Spain early tomorrow morning for a week - can't wait!.

Karen x

DU2DS Challege #40 - Blooms and Butterflies

Here is my DT card for the new challenge at Dare U 2 Digi Stamp where the theme is blooms and butterflies. How up my street is this? I have used another of Di's Digital Downloads for this card - cute little mouse or what? and the papers are all from the Papermania Henbury range as are the flowers and butterflies. I have coloured the image with copic markers and added some stickles to the flowers.


The sketch that I have follwed with this card is the current one at Sketch Saturday

Have a great weekend and do pop by the challenge blog Here if you are looking for some inspiration and see what the rest of the DT have created along this theme.

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - challenge #39 - red, white and blue

We have a new challenge on DU2DS today with a theme of Red, White and Blue - World Cup. So you could go for the colours and or World Cup/football, I hope you can join us.

I am not a football fan and added to that I am Scottish!! so I have chosen to follow the colours but not the theme. The image that I have used is by CC designs and sorry the papers are from my stash and have not name left on the bits that I have used here. I have followed the sketch at Anyone for Anya this week.


Well the weather her has definately picked up here over the past few days and I am hopeful of a good weekend. I do hope that the sun is shining wherever you are today and have a lovely weekend.

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - challenge 38

We have new challenge up and running at Dare U 2 Digi Stamp which is ONE FOR THE BOYS...the only thing you have to remember is to include a digi image on your card/project and you have two weeks to make your entry on the challenge blog...the design team have created some very inspirational cards which can all be seen over on the challenge blog!
When I saw this image from Di's Digi Downloads I just knew that I had to have it as it is just perfect for a card for my Boss on his upcoming 60th Birthday. I have teamed this fab little image with some papermania papers and the sentiment is from Create with TLC.


The sketch that I have followed is the current one at Sketch Saturday

Please remember to come back to see me on Sunday when we have the Nutcrafters Blog Hop to celebrate the launch of their new stamps - I promise you, these are gorgeous.


Have a great weekend.

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Challenge #37 - Anything Goes

We have another challenge up and running today at Dare U 2 Digi Stamp and this time around the theme is "anything goes" so as long as you use a digi image on your card or project then that is good with us. Please check out the challenge Here to read all about this week's challenge and also take a look at the gorgeous cards from the DT this week.

On my card this week I have used one of the fabulous images from Meljen designs - I just love these designs from Melissa. The papers are all by Papermania and the flowers are by prima.


I have used the sketch below, which is the current one at Crafts 4 Eternity


Have a great weekend and I hope that you enjoy this challenge.

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - #35 - Metal

Well it is Friday again - yippee, and time for another challenge at DU2DS and this time around we are looking for some metal on your cards or projects. You can see how the rest of the DT have interpreted this challenge Here and all that we ask really is that you remember to use a digi stamp somewhere on your card.


I have used this really cute little image from Bugboo stamps which I have had for ages - I think it may have been one of their freebies at some point. The papers that I have used are all from an Eline's babies pack by Marianne Designs and the flowers are by prima. I have used the current sketch at Papertake Weekly.

It looks like we are set for a good weekend here, so fingers crossed we may get some sunshine.

Have a great weekend.

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - challenge 34 - Easter

Once again we have a great challenge for you at Dare U 2 Digi Stamp and this time around we are looking for all those Easter creations. The only thing that we would ask is that you make sure that you use a digi image somewhere on your card or project.

We have some gorgeous samples from the DT for you to feast your eyes on Here and these will hopefully give you some inspiration.


The papers that I have used for my card are all by doodlebug as are the flower stickers. The image is from Digital Delights and I have done the sentiment on the computer.

I am also entering this card at Everybody Art Challenge where the theme is Easter.

This will be my last Easter card for this year as I am heading off on holiday tomorrow for a week. I have scheduled a few posts while I am away and hopefully I will get some internet access to keep up with what you are all up to.

Have a lovely Easter.

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - challenge 33 - no patterned paper

Our new challenge for you today is to create something with a digi stamp as usual but this time around we are challenging you to use no patterned paper at all.

This really was a challenge for me as patterned paper is my passion, but I have to admit that I really am pleased with how clean and simple this card looks. The image is one that I found from a link on Kerry's blog and if you have never checked out her work you are in for a real treat. This little cutie's name is Newton and he would also be perfect for a little girl card. The little brad is one that I have had in my stash for ever and I think that I bought a box of these when on holiday in Florida about 3 years ago. I am also going to enter this card at Cute Card Thursday where they are looking for celebration cards.


Please do pop on over to the blog Hereto see the gorgeous cards that the rest of the DT have made this week and have a wonderful weekend.

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - challenge #32 - Pearls

Here we are, Friday again and time for another Dare U 2 Digi Stamp challenge. This time around we are looking for you to use pearls on your card or project. We have some fabulous cards for you to have a look at from the DT Here which hopefully will give you some inspiration.


I have used this adorable little image from Karen's Doodles and this one was a followers freebie. Karen draws such fabulous images and this little bear is certainly no exception. The papers are by Making Memories and I have punched the flowers from the same range of papers with my retro flower punches.
The sketch that I have followed is the one below this week from Create 4 fun


Have a great weekend.

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - challenge #31 - Use your punches

I have scheduled this post as I am away in Spain at the moment and have not internet access so I only hope that it has happened at the right time!. Out challenge this week is to use your punches and on my card here I have used a border punch for the top and bottom borders and have also used a couple of flower punches for the embellishement. This gorgeous image is one that I bought a couple of weeks ago from Karen's Doodles, and she is just so gorgeous - I just love the expression on her face. The papers are all from a forever friends pad that sadly is getting used up all too fast.


The sketch that I have followed is the one at Create 4 fun challenge at the moment and this is one that I will use again as it was really quick, but the effect is great.


Have a great weekend.

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - challenge 30 - Hearts/Valentines

I can't beleive it is Friday already - what a quick week. Time again for a new Dare U 2 Digi stamp challenge and this time around we are looking for you to use your digi stamps to create something with hearts or for valentines day.


The sketch I have used is the fabulous one over at Sketch and Stash at the moment. I just love this sketch and definately will use this one again. I am also entering this card at Allsorts Challenge where they want you to use hearts and flowers. The image is by Whimsie doodles and they also have a boy version of this cute image available, papers are by papermania and the flowers were cut with retro flower punches in matching papers.


Have a great weekend and don't forget to check out the gorgeous cards from the rest of the Dare U 2 Digi Stamp DT Here

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - Challenge #29

It’s our first challenge of 2010 on Dare U 2 Digi Stamp today and we’re starting off with a theme of buttons. There’s some great inspiration from my design team friends and we hope you can join us.


I have used one of the new digi stamps from CC Designs and this is a fab one as it could be used for Valentines day but also you could use it for Birthdays, Thank You cards etc all year round. These really pretty papers are one of the new For Ever Friends ranges from Docrafts and are just my colours. The cute little spotty buttons are by Papermania, flowers by prima.

I have used the sketch from one of the challenges this week, but can't for the life of me remember which one is it. If anyone recognises it please drop me a comment so that I can credit the challenge that it came from.

I have our three grandchildren coming tonight and staying for the weekend, so that should be fun. Thankfully most of our snow has now gone so we should be able to get out and about.

Judy Laing is doing a demo day at Papercrafts in Elgin tomorrow, so hopefully I will manage to pop along at some time during the day. I just adore Judy's work and it will be great to see her actually demonstrating her beautiful colouring.

Have a great weekend.

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - challenge 28 - last miunute Christmas Cards

Sorry to be a day late with this post but I have had a problem finding internet facilities here on holiday.
This is our last challenge of the year at Dare U 2 Digi Stamp and this time around we are looking for all those last minute Christmas cards. I know that I was certainly at the last minute getting all mine ready before heading off to Spain.


I have used the same layout for these last 3 cards that I have made. All the DP is by My Minds Eye and the images are from various sources.



I do hope that you are all managing to get a bit of time to get all your preparations done. I now have all my decorations up here in Spain. Had hoped to get a photo posted, but can find anywhere to load it onto the system - my laptop appears to have some sort of problem, will try to get it sorted on Monday.


Have a great weekend,

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp Challenge #27 - red, green and your choice of neutral

We have another challenge for you today at Dare U 2 Digi Stamp this time around we are asking to to use the colours red and green with your choice of neutral. These colours lend themselves to Christmas, but you will see from the samples from the DT that these colours also look fab on any other type of card. This card also fits in with the challege at Stampin for the Weekend where they are looking for you to use red, green and gold on your cards, and lastly All That Scraps Wednesday Challenge are looking for anything Christmas.


I have a few gift-cards to give as Christmas presents this year as lots of the kids are now getting older and like to choose their own clothes etc, so I decided to make a giftcard holder this week. The digi images that I have used are both from CC Designs and the papers are by Making Memories (I think). The little tree charm is one that I picked up ealier in the year in the States.



I have used the same papers on the inside also and the trees were cut out from a piece of the DP.


These little holders are so simple to make. I piece of doubled sided paper 11" x 4.5" which is then scored 3" in from both sides and also down the centre. I have used a nestability to cut the aperture for slipping the giftcard in - but it could be cut by hand of by using any punch. I have then attached the ribbon to the base of holder before adding the mat on the front and back.


The cute little Santa I have been good sentiment was also cut from the same set of DP.


I hope you have a good weekend.

I am putting our Christmas tree up at home tomorrow - a bit earlier than usual, but I want to get the good of it before we head off on holiday.

I put the one in the office up on Wednesday so we are looking really quite festive and have already received a couple of Christmas cards at work.

Karen x

Dare U 2 Digi Stamp - challenge 25 - sketch by Larissa

Our new dare is a great sketch designed by our very talented Larissa and which all of us on the design team enjoyed working with, thank you Larissa! We're looking forward to seeing how you interpret Larissa's sketch and of course your creation must also include a digital image.


This is one of the new digi images that CC designs launched earlier this week and I just know that I will be using this one on a few kids cards this year. The papers are last year's doodlebug Christmas range and ribbon from my stash.


I have my 3 grandchildren coming to stay for the weekend and we will all be heading out to the bonfire and fireworks display on Saturday night, so hopefully the weather will be good to us.

Karen x