Challenge 5 – To Die For x

Hiya guys, I can’t believe it’s been a month since our last competition! Where did January go? It’s a bit of a blur with the snow and the below zero temperatures – I’ve been carrying my hot water bottle around with me all month :-D Hope you’ve all been having fun snow angel’ing your way around :-)  x 

Before we start we’ve got a little bit of sad news as we’re saying goodbye to a couple of our gorgeous DT girls – Fabi & NJ. It’s with a heavy heart that I say farewell as we absolutely loved having them on the team and I’ll always be thankful for all the help they gave me whilst we were getting this site going (as I literally had no idea what I was doing) :-D I’m sure you’ll join me and the girls in wishing them the best for the future and, thanks to the wonderful lands of Blogger and Facebook, we’ll be able to keep in contact with them (and an eye on their gorgeous work) in the future.

We will probably look to add a couple more peeps to the team over the next couple of months but I thought I’d take this opportunity to give myself the kick up the bottom I needed to get going at card making myself {{{nervous}}} so I’ll be joining in with the girls for a bit to keep the numbers up – be kind – I’m a card making newbie :-D

Right, on with business – a massive thank you to everyone who joined in with us last month – there were some truly beautiful cards and it always makes my day when I see a new entry – I don’t think that feeling will ever go away – I just love seeing the digi’s being played with! - Thanks for keeping the smile on my face throughout the cold month of January ladies x x I ran the numbers though the Random Number Generator again and the winner for the White on White challenge is:

Donna

Congratulations chick – I’ll add your card to the winners wall today x If you email me at flatfriendsboutique@gmail.com using verification code FFC4 with your choice of 4 digis I’ll get them over to you. You can grab your winners badge from the sidebar too – any probs let me know x

As you can see from the title above this month’s challenge is ‘To Die For’ so we’re looking for cards where a die cut has been used – doesn’t matter which one - any die will do :-) I’m super excited about this challenge as I got my first ever die cutting machine recently and it will be really nice for me to get some ideas for the shopping list (sorry to hubster if you’re reading this – could be an expensive month) :-D

A winner will be chosen using the Random Number Generator and announced on the 1^st of March (when we launch the next challenge). They will have their choice of 4 free Flat Friends digi’s and their card will feature on our Wall of Fame for the month.

As always a Flat Friends digi must be used for your creation but there are some freebies that can be used if you don't already own one of my designs which can be accessed from the freebies tab above x

There’s some seriously cute inspiration from the design team this month – thank you ladies – they truly are To Die For as always x x x

Happy Crafting & Digi Hugs x x

Hi, it's Kathy here! I rarely make a card with out dies, they are one of my favorite crafty tools. For this challenge I just had to use Crafting- To Die For. Isn't she cute? Perfect for cards for those crafty friends who you know will appreciate (and not throw out) a lovely hand made card! I colored her up and paired her with some Nestabilities oval dies, MFT border and rolled rose dies, and a PTI banner die. Hope you will join the challenge and show us what die cuts you love.

Hello Patty Here! Mostly all of my cards has some dies or cut out.... today my dies and my cutting machine are the most use and love craft tool i have.  I used Paige I Love you- which will be great for Valentine's day, maybe add some hearts or pink & white layers. I colored her with my prismacolors pencils.

Sally - Hi everyone, this is my favourite card so far using this wonderful image. I coloured her with promarkers and cut her out. I embossed some white pearlescent cardstock using a large Spellbinders embossing folder, and went over it with pan pastels. Cut out a window/ aperture using the new dies from Tonic, cut out again and then put acetate through an embossing folder which looks like pouring rain on the window panes. Stamped the image on a piece of card, coloured it in and adhered it to the window pane. I adhered the window to the outside of the aperture with Pinflair 3D glue. Matted and layered the window card onto baby blue and navy cardstock. Cut out a Spellbinders fancy label and adhered the sentiment "Sorry you are feeling under the weather" on top!

Sarah Hello everybody, can't believe it's February and time for a new challenge!!  My the time is flying along already!

So my card - I used Geeky, from the Back to School collection (and boy it took me a long time to decide which image to use, they are all soooo fab!). I coloured with my Promarkers then cut her out first with Floral Ovals die from Spellbinders, I then dusted Spun Sugar Distress Ink around the image, while it was still in the frame, then went back and die cut her out again with an Oval nesties die.  I then stuck the image directly to the patterned paper, stuck down the hearts border, Memory Box: Twirled Heart, over the image but under the frame which I popped up on 3d foam for depth.  The heart in the corner is waste from the border - and voila! The card you see before you.

Thanks for listening!

Em – Hi again guys x For my card I went with the Taylor ‘Camping Day’ digi along with papers from the My Mind’s Eye ‘Away We Go’ paper pad which I’m absolutely in love with. I’m developing a serious addiction for My Mind’s Eye papers and have a sneaky stash growing in my craft cupboard ready to be played with – they’re ridiculously cute and I wish I could decorate my whole house with them :-D For the dies I went with ‘Labels Eight’ from the Spellbinders Nestabilities collection and the ‘Marshmallow Clouds’ die from Memory Box. I cranked them through my new best friend Mr Big Shot and built up the layers using foam pads. I really really enjoyed making this and loving being an official team member – could get used to this card making! :-D x x 

Hopping Again :-) x

Yayyy it's Friday and time for another challenge over at Polkadoodles :-D We're lucky enough to be working with their gorgeous team again this week on a new blog hop and if you enter you’ll have the chance to win some goodies from the lovely Polkadoodles store.

You can find the free digi to use and the full rules for the hop HERE – good luck :-)

If you've come to my blog from Shell along the hop then you're at the finish line but if you got lost along the way just go back to the Polkadoodle Challenge blog as the full list of participants is there. Don't forget that you need to leave a comment on each of the blogs to be in with a chance of winning the Polkadoodle prize x x

The Blog Hop will end at 12noon on Sunday the 20th of January along with the challenge - so good luck and happy hopping!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Nikky and all the lovely design team ladies over at Polkadoodles - it's been a real treat getting to see all of their gorgeous cards.

Have a lovely weekend everyone x x

Blog Hop :-) x

Hiya guys, we’re doing a blog hop in conjunction with the lovely ladies over at Polkadoodles this week and you have the opportunity to win some goodies by entering their weekly challenge.

You can find the full details and a free digi to use HERE along with some gorgeous inspiration from the design team :-)

Don’t forget that you need to leave a comment on each of the blogs to have a chance at winning the Polkadoodle prize x

The blog hop will end at 12 noon on Sunday January 13^th along with the challenge so good luck and happy hopping! x x 

Challenge 4 – Put a Bling on it x

Hey guys Happy New Year!!! I hope you’re all feeling okay this morning and that you had an amazing Christmas break – mine has been perfect – full of family, friends, and some serious overindulgence! I’ve been wayyy to scared to brave the bathroom scales and, as has become tradition every year, I’ll be avoiding them until January is out of the way and I’ve been really good for a month :-D

Anywho, onto business – first I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who joined in on our challenge last month. I loved all the cards and really enjoyed the white on white theme – such simple elegant designs – gorgeous. I've run the numbers though the Random Number Generator again and the winner for the White on White challenge is:

Heather

Congratulations hun – I’ll add your card to the winners wall today x If you email me at flatfriendsboutique@gmail.com using verification code FFC3 with your choice of 4 digis I’ll get them over to you. You can grab your winners badge from the sidebar too – any probs let me know x

As you can see from the title above this month’s challenge is ‘Put a Bling on it’ – we thought it may be nice to continue the glitz and glamour of last night into the New Year so we’re looking for glitter/rhinestones/sparkles (basically anything that makes it gorgeous and blingtastic) :-)

A winner will be chosen using the Random Number Generator and announced on the 1^st of February (when we launch the next challenge). They will have their choice of 4 free Flat Friends digi’s and their card will feature on our Wall of Fame throughout January.

As always a Flat Friends digi must be used for your creation but there are a couple of freebies that can be used if you don't already own one of my designs which can be accessed from the freebies tab above x

Okay – that’s enough from me – I’m off to enjoy New Years Day with some gorgeous friends :-) As always, I’ll leave you to look at the beautiful inspiration from the DT – a massive thanks from me to them - stunning as always and seriously blingtastic x x

Happy Crafting & Digi Hugs x x

Kathy - Happy New Year everyone! May 2013 be the best year yet! I love bling and use it on almost every creation. When I saw this new Cheerleader image, I knew she would be fun to bling up! I've used plenty of stickles on her pom poms and outfit. I also glazed her boots for some shine (who wouldn't want green leather boots, right?). I added a few rhinestones to the sentiment as well. Hope you will join us for this bling-tastic challenge!

NJ - Hello lovelies and a very Happy New Year from me. I hope you have all had a wonderful time over the festive season and looking forward to a great 2013. Now I absolutely love this theme as bling is just right up my street! LOL I have used Taylorbell and I wanted to just use 2 sparkly colours so I have gone for silver & black. I wanted to do something a little different so I have coloured her with Sakura Gelly Roll Pens Silver Star and Black Sparkle. I chose not to add any other colour as I wanted to keep the focus on the glitz and glamour of a New Year Celebration. I like the fact too she has a wand and then she can make all your New Year Wishes come true! Hopefully..lol.... Happy New Year Lots of love NJ XXX

Sally - Happy New Year Girlies! Let's hope it is a good one! Here is my card for the New Year Challenge, using Taylor. I have glitzed her up using lots of glitter, cut her out and then chose some card stock from my crafty stash. Cut out a scalloped circle using Spellbinder's dies and cut scalloped ovals using Sizzix dies. Chose a sentiment and adhered it to a Spellbinder's flower.

Sarah - And a very Happy New Year to you all too!  I hope 2013 brings all that you could hope for.  I also used Taylorbell for my image, I thought those wings would look fab all blinged up and they do! I added some of my favourite papers, die cuts and some rhinestones and there you go - my first card of the New Year.  Looking forward to seeing more of your fabulous entries in this month's challenge.

Challenge 3 - White on White with a Splash of Colour x

Hi guys, thanks for popping by again – last month went by sooo quickly – I can’t believe it’s very almost Xmas!! :-) I’m so excited - Christmas is by far my fav. time of year - you’ll struggle to find me without a grin on my face in the weeks leading up to the big day :-D I’m guessing the festive tunes will go full pelt on the radio today and I’ll hopefully be watching a few DVD Crimbo classics over the weekend lol x

Right onto business :-) I want to say a massive thanks to everyone who joined in on the challenge last month – we really enjoyed looking at your beautiful cards x x I've run the numbers though the Random Number Generator again and the winner for the Dots & Stripes challenge is:

Ruth

Congratulations hun – I’ll add your card to the winners wall today x If you email me at flatfriendsboutique@gmail.com using verification code FFC2 with your choice of 4 digis I’ll get them over to you. You can grab your winners badge from the sidebar too – any probs let me know x

As you can see from the title above this month’s challenge is ‘White on White with a Splash of Colour’ or 'Color' for our friends across the water :-) It's a fitting theme I think as it looks like we'll all be surrounded in white this month if the weather forecasts are anything to go by :-D 

As always a Flat Friends digi needs to be used for your creation but I’ve designed an Xmas freebie so everyone can play along. I’ve called it ‘Crimbo Shopping’ and if you click on the picture below you’ll be taken to a download of the black and white PNG digi file. I’ve tested the link on a couple of web browsers but if any of you have any problems accessing the file just drop me an email at flatfriendsboutique@gmail.com and I’ll get it sent over to you directly x

A winner will be chosen using the Random Number Generator and announced on the 1^st of January (when we launch the next challenge). They will have their choice of 4 free Flat Friends digi’s and their card will feature on our Wall of Fame throughout the month.

Okay that’s enough from me – I'm off to crank up the radio and get going on the decorations :-) As always our gorgeous DT have come up with some beautiful inspiration for us all so I’ll leave you to check out their creations.

Happy Crafting & Crimbo Digi Hugs x 

Hi, it's Kathy here. I love white on white cards, so elegant! I think all the white gives a snowy feel, too, so that is what I went with using Skate Away With Me. I used lots of embossing folders to get some texture on all that white cardstock:

NJ - Hello lovelies, as this theme is white on white with a splash of colour...straight away I knew I wanted to add lots of texture. I have used handmade papers, leaves, a flower, ribbon and pearls and kept the colour tones very similar. I love her carrying the tree!

Hi, it's Patty here. I love white on white cards, there so elegant! I think all the white gives the cards a elegant feel and so clean that anything looks amazing on white.  I used Prom Date, with lots of embossing layers of white and just add the cut out oval with the colored digi and embellish with a red bow:

Sally - Hi, I coloured my image using flexmarkers added a touch of glitter and a flower on her dress and added a dew drop for the centre. Embossed a background, using an embossing folder from Spellbinders, matted it on silver card, tied a white sheer ribbon and added a bow and then embellished it with a few flowers in the corners and added a sentiment "Special Sister":

Sarah here - Oooh White on White (or WoW) cards love 'em!  The freedom it gives you with colour choices for your image is fantastic. Then you can really go to town with the embossing, die-cuts, ribbons, etc, etc, etc!

I really had fun making this one, hope you like it too:

Challenge 2 - Dots & Stripes x

Hey guys, thanks so much for popping by and a massive thank you to the ladies who participated in our 1^st challenge last month – I loved looking at your gorgeous work. It is early days and we’re busy working in the background at getting some more exposure on the site so your lovely creations get seen by a few more peeps in the future.

Okay, so I ran the numbers through the Random Number Generator as promised and the winner of the Tic Tac Toe challenge is:

Mandy

Congratulations hun – I’ll add your card to the winners wall today x If you email me at flatfriendsboutique@gmail.com using verification code FFC1 with your choice of 4 digis I’ll get them over to you. You can grab your winners badge from the sidebar too – any probs let me know x

As the numbers were low and we didn't have to crank up the old generator too much I would like to offer a free digi as a thank you to Mary and Karen for entering our 1st ever challenge too - just email me with the name of the stamp you would like and I'll email it over to you tonight when I get back from work x x

Okay, as you can see from the title above this month’s challenge is Dots & Stripes and you can use dots and/or stripes for your card. The only other requirement for your entry is that a Flat Friends digi is used for your creation (you can see the full range on 'The Digi' tab above) x

A winner will be chosen using the Random Number Generator and announced on the 1^st of December (when we launch the next challenge). They will have their choice of 4 free Flat Friends digi’s and their card will feature on our Wall of Fame throughout December. 

Please remember to check out the challenge rules on the tab above where Taylor is waiting to guide you through the formalities in her bossy boots x 

Okay that’s enough from me – I’ll leave you to look at the gorgeous cards our wonderful DT have put together for inspiration. A huge thank you from me to them – stunning work as always x x

Happy Crafting & Digi Hugs x 

Fabi- For my card I have used the cute Tree Hugger, have colored her with Promarkers. The papers are from Polka Doodles, and some Kraft paper from my stash. I inked the sides of my papers with distress ink Walnut Stain:

Kathy - I've used this darling Christmas Camper image and the dots and stripes are in my patterned papers. Such a fun retro image to play with!

NJ - As soon as I saw the Fairytale collection I just knew I wanted to use 'Little Red Riding Hood'. I have used some paper that I already had in my craft stash. I picked this as it had dots all over it and in the flowers. I cut out some flowers to create a border around the image. I added dots to the red robe using a white souffle pen. The stripe is in the rik rak. I wanted the red to be the striking colour!

Patty - For my card I've used Sooty Santa, have colored him with my copics. The papers are from Taylor for Daisyd's and AC and some Brown and White paper from my stash. I inked the the edges of the papers with Toast ink and as a final touch I added Liquid Applique to hat, mitten and chime. Hope you like it as much as I did!!

Sally - Hi this is my card for November Challenge. I love how this has turned out. I used my new Spellbinder die and found the papers on Polkadoodles Pen & Paper Collection 2. I also love this image, it is one of my favourites:

Sarah - I've gone for one of the images from the new release. She is just super cute - love the glasses!! I'm sure you can spot the spots, but the stripes might be a bit more difficult, as I've mostly covered up the paper they are on!!  Hope you like:

Please link to your blog post rather than your homepage on the linky tool below so we can find your card easily x x

Challenge 1 - Tic Tac Toe - 3 in a Row x

Hiya! Thanks for visiting us on our 1^st challenge – I’m beyond excited about getting going and can’t wait to see your gorgeous creations!

Since my last post our wonderful design team gals have been helping me fumble about in the background and I’ve been having fun getting to know blogger more intimately :-)

I’ve invited Paige to help me this month and she’s popped by to show us the Tic Tac Toe options we have to play with. The idea here is that you use 3 themes for your card which can be chosen from any straight or diagonal line from the arrangement below:

So, for example you could:

• Use a straight line going down i.e. Dies, Stitches, and Rectangles
• Use a straight line going across i.e. Buttons, Squares, and Dies
• Use a straight line going diagonally i.e. A Sentiment, Pastels or Pinks, and Dies

Making sense? :-D

P.S. You can use any Flatfriends digi for your creation x

A winner will be chosen using the Random Number Generator and announced on the 1^st of November (when we launch the next challenge). They will have their choice of 4 free Flatfriends digi’s and their card will feature on our Wall of Fame throughout November.

Please remember to check out the challenge rules on the tab above where Taylor is waiting to guide you through the formalities in her bossy boots x 

Okay that’s enough from me – I bet you’re itching to see what our lovely DT gals have been busy working on for our inspiration so I’ll leave you to have a look at their gorgeous creations below.

Happy Crafting & Digi Hugs x x 

Fabi’s gone along the top line using Buttons, Squares, & Dies:

Kathy’s gone diagonally using Dies, Pinks, & A Sentiment:

NJ’s gone diagonally using Buttons, Pastels or Pinks, & Rectangles:

Patty’s gone diagonally using Dies, Pastels or Pinks, & A Sentiment:

Sally’s gone diagonally using Dies, Pinks, & A Sentiment:

Sarah’s gone along the bottom line using A Sentiment, Distressing, & Rectangles:

Please link to your blog post rather than your homepage on the linky tool below so we can find your card easily x x