Cardmaker of the year 2010 entries - Papermania

I entered 2 cards into the papermania category.

The first is one I made with the Summer Bloom paperstack and using a fab Mo Manning digital image which can be found here at Mo's digital pencil.

The 2nd is one I made with a Monochrome kit that I bought quite cheaply from TK Maxx I think for about £12.99 which was good as the contents were worth about £30+. I put the black and white papers/brads etc with the purple and went for a more gothic twist on this so it's not a cute card although I really like it as it's different. The image is one of Kenny K's digital downloads which can be found here The front of the card is made like an LP cover and I made a record that you can pull out - maybe for a hidden message! Again, it's a bit different!

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

Cardmaker of the year 2010 entries - Joanna Sheen

These are my 2 entries for the Joanna Sheen category. The House Mouse one I came 2nd with and the other one is a Xmas one made with the Baggy Jumper Messy rabbit stamp. These can both be found here

The house mouse easel card I made similar to the valentines card I made for my hubby this year as I loved the colours. The papers are from one of Summer Driggs fabulous free downloadable scrapbooking kits which I absolutely love and use a lot. I think the kit I used was the Freedom kit but you should really check out them all as they are so great - they can be found here

The Messy rabbit card I think is made with an 8x8 paperstack that I have had ages from DCWV. I only used it as it was the only Xmas papers that I hadn't packed away although I do like them. I used a few other bits from a different messy rabbit stamps set too and was pleased with the way it went together.

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

Cardmaker of the year 2010 entries - Cosmo Cricket

This is my Cosmo cricket entry - I used a 6x6 garden variety paperstack as I really loved the strawberry paper in it which is why I thought of the strawberry jam jar and "you're so sweet" sentiment! I was going to make another card for this category as I bought some other papers too but I ran out of time. I used the little white flowers as they looked similar to the flowers on the strawberry paper and I used the wooden ladybirds just because they are so cute. I made the jam jar by hand out of acetate, red mulberry paper and gingham fabric although I had to make another one as the first one I made was a tad too small and just didn't look right!

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

Cardmaker of the year 2010 entries - Pink Petticoat

This is my entry in the Pink Petticoat which I came 1st with. I made it using a free life's lemons download which you can find here

I made this in a zig zag design card just for a change. The main thing I used extra was some yellow gingham papers just to break it up a bit. I love the little lemonade logo which I found in google images. I applied several layers of clear embossing powder, distress ink and cracked it by bending it. I then added 4 small silver brads so it looked like a vintage enamel sign (or at least that was the idea) I added several layer of glossy accents to the pips of the lemons which really made them pop! I had to make a box as it wouldn't fit in an envelope and I used the off-cuts from the card to decorate the lid.


My 2nd entry for pink petticoat was made using the Lola Bubbly set which can be found here

I used papers from a funky fairy kit (which are sadly no more) I think the papers were softly shabby and nanna's wallpaper. I cut the papers up and attched them to the card in strips so it looked like wallpaper. I made fake doors and then cut out an extra pair of doors so it looked like panelling. I used some distress ink so it looked a bit vintage chic, added a few sequins and stickles glitter glue.

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

My Cardmaker of the Year 2010 entries - La Pashe category

I was and still am amazed that I won - although looking at the magazine it was very close so I only just pipped it!!! I sent in 19 entries this year entering 14 of the 15 categories and I came 1st in the Pink Petticoat and La Pashe categories and 2nd in the Cosmo cricket and Joanna Sheen Categories. Last year I sent in 9 entries as I only found out about the competition really late on as it was just before I got married so I only had about 10 days to make things. This year I had about 10 weeks to make stuff which meant I could chill out a bit. Last year I came 2nd in the crafttime creative flatbacks and 3rd in the fiskars categories so was thrilled I did better than last year!!! I will show you everything I sent in as the magazine only showed the 4 cards that were placed 1st or 2nd!!!

This is my entry for La Pashe which came 1st. It's a bit different as I made up the remember when decoupage into a boxed frame and then made a fake book to go around it. It was a case of trial and error as I didn't have a template or anything and didn't really have much idea what I was doing. I dug out some brown leather effect paper that I bought many moons ago to cover it and there you go. It took me 2 full days to make it but it was well worth it as I think it won because it stood out.

Thanks for looking!!!

Paula. x

My craft room!!!

Just so you all know I'm due to give birth in 2 weeks so I have spent the last 2 months tidying and sorting through my craft room so it's finally in a fit state to show all of you lovely people. The only cards I have made recently have been the 4 cards I have made for the Joanna Sheen design team which I have recently joined down to my Cardmaker of the Year win which I am really chuffed with. My first job was to make 2 cards from decoupage sheets and 2 cards from a rubber stamp set. These are all brand new and will be released soon so I was very privileged to be one of the first to try them out. I have just received my Joanna Sheen 2nd prize which was a whopping £150 gift voucher to spend in the online shop on ANYTHING I wanted!!! I have just spent it (and extra) on oodles of fab goodies including lots of lovely house mouse stamps which I adore!!! I am feeling well so I'm hoping to start my blog challenges again. I am also looking forward to receiving my Cricut Expression which I ordered last week - so exciting!!! I'm hoping it arrives before the baby so I can have a good play!

Thanks for looking!!!!!!

Paula. x

OMG - I've won Cardmaker of the Year 2010 !!!

Hiya everyone!

I just wanted to let you all know that I haven't dropped off the face of the earth but I stopped making cards due to tiredness in April due to pregnancy and only started making cards again when I found out that the Cardmaker of the Year competition was back by Cardmaking and papercraft magazine which was around July. I pushed myself to enter as I really wanted to do better than last year (I came 2nd in Craftime Creative Flatbacks and 3rd in Fiskars categories) I had a few months till the deadline of 14th September so for 2 months all I made was cards for the competition so I've done no blog challenges or any customer orders or anything. Well, it all paid off as I got a phone call on Wednesday from Lucy at Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine that I was the winner of the Cardmaker of the Year competition 2010. Apparently, I came 1st in Pink Petticoat and La Pashe categories and 2nd in Cosmo Cricket and Joanna Sheen categories. I've won £700 in prizes altogether. I am soooooo surprised I won especially as I haven't been up to much this year although I did spend a lot of time and effort on my entries. If any of you are interested the magazine will be out on 23rd November.

My baby is due on 6th December so I have a lot a great things to look forward to in the next couple of months. I wouldn't have done any of this without the help, love and support of my wonderful husband Shane - so big, big hugs and kisses for you!

Thanks for listening!!!

Paula. x